Pennies from Heaven

Pennies from heaven into a Pot,
Pennies from heaven we don’t need a lot
The pennies we give will help to provide
Wheelchairs for those who need the ride.

Please save nickels, dimes, and quarters to raise a small contribution towards purchasing 12 wheelchairs to donate to the Wheelchair Foundation in memory of Jean Shumway.
May 8, 2004.

Judy Piquet, President of the Relief Society of Corona California, first heard about The Wheelchair Foundation through The Ensign, the monthly LDS church magazine, “I was intrigued by the Wheelchair Foundation’s mission to fight immobility, so I went on the web site to learn more about the foundation. I read several stories and saw the video ‘The Power of One’, which really moved me, it brought me to tears. I knew I wanted to get involved. Being the President of the Relief Society, I felt the Wheelchair Foundation would be a wonderful project for us to adopt for our annual women’s conference. It just seemed like the right thing to do.”

Judy then put together a committee with Shellie Hunt and contacted the Wheelchair Foundation. “The Wheelchair Foundation was extremely helpful in getting us materials to share with our group. A month prior to the Relief Society conference in early May, Judy with the help of her friends and fellow society members, handed out 600 Chinese take out containers with the “Pennies from heaven poem” on the front as well as a small request: When you find spare change, toss it in the container. Throughout the month, people found change in their car seat, in-between couch cushions and while doing the laundry. Nickels, dimes, quarters and pennies all were added to these small Chinese take out containers.

Judy decided to raise these funds in memory of Jean Shumway, a member of the LDS church who passed away earlier this year. “It is a great project to remember a great person.” The Corona California Relief Society had a goal to raise enough funds to sponsor 12 wheelchairs. One month and 500 pounds of spare change later, $5,625 was raised. This amount was enough to sponsor 75 wheelchairs. The Relief Society of Corona California was able to raise more than six times the amount of their original goal! The Wheelchair Foundation would like to thank Judy Piquet for her fantastic fundraising efforts.

If you would like to organize a fundraiser for the Wheelchair Foundation, please contact us and we will send you marketing material, inspirational videos as well as donation forms and brochures.