Bingham Farms Collecting Pennies to Benefit THAW

Know of some spare change stuck in your couch cushions? will be collecting coins through Jan. 13 for THAW, or The Heat And Warmth Fund — an independent non-profit that provides low-income individuals and families in Michigan with emergency assistance while advocating for long-term energy solutions.

To collect money for THAW, Bingham Farms will be participating in Pennies for Power, which allows elementary students to raise money while also providing cost-free energy education to students.

Each classroom will receive a container to collect the coins during the campaign, at the end of which the coins will be collected and counted. The winning class at each school will receive a pizza party.

Schools will be notified of total funds raised and school represenatatives will present the check from their school on-air during the WWJ Newsradio Winter Survival Radiothon for THAW on Jan. 27-28 at the Henry Ford. 

"Pennies for Power is a great tool to teach students the importance of giving and how even pennies can make a big difference in keeping our neighbors warm this winter," said Rose Sarti from THAW. "The program's energy education element teaches students at an early age about energy sources and conservation in their own homes and lays the foundation for them to be smart energy users during their lifetime."

Bingham Farms is the only Birmingham school participating in Pennies for Power. Other participating schools include:

• Plymouth Educational Center (Plymouth)
• Center for Literacy and Creativity (Detroit)
• Cesar Chavez Academy (Detroit)
• Detroit Leadership Academy (Detroit)
• Defer Elementary (Grosse Pointe Park)
• Lone Pine Elementary (West Bloomfield)
• Mohawk Elementary (Macomb Township)