My Coins Count

There has been a lot of money talk among my children recently.  With one child who has been receiving allowance for many years and learning how to save it and spend it (more or less) responsibly, my younger child who has never received allowance is now very aware that money is a thing and that it can buy candy. And so the campaign to receive allowance has begun.

I am not against allowance for a five-year-old, although I don't think it started this early with his sister, but I also don't want to reinforce the idea that the money he receives will be funneled straight to the corner store for Skittles.  I want him to also develop and understanding of generosity and that he has the power to share. And so enters "My Coins Count."

We've never emphasized this giving program of Mennonite Central Committee before at SMC because we give in other ways to MCC.  But the Mennonite Country Auction has moved online and our opportunities to assemble school kits or hygiene kits are unavailable so I encourage you to think of this as an alternative.  The money collected through My Coins Count primarily supports hunger intervention, education and water projects around the world.

Here's how you can get started.

• Watch the video (left) of kids talking about why they're collecting their coins.
• Find a jar or decorate a container to use to collect money over the next month or two. If you need a way to structure giving, you could check out or print the water giving calendar or the food giving calendar
• Count what you've collected and send a donation yourself or arrange to bring it to the SMC office (email Marsha, who's here several days/week) and we'll count it and add it to the children's offering to send to MCC water and education projects at the end of October.

Throughout the next month I'll be highlighting stories from Mennonite Central Committee and children in the children's time in worship.  You'll also soon be receiving an envelope with a few things for your family including coloring books which feature images from MCC's work over the last 100 years. 

I'll let you know how our allowance situation develops!

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