Copper is flowing into parish schools this month to support the Special Olympic participants this year.

An annual penny drive is in effect to help raise money for local Special Olympians.

The money will help the young men and women purchase uniforms, awards and meals while they travel to compete in various sporting events.

At Merryville High School a competition is going on between classes to win doughnut parties.

Weekly winners that raise the most money will be allowed a doughnut party.

Pinewood Elementary and is also competing to watch the final qualifications at DeRidder High School in May. The top three classes will be allowed to go the the high school to watch the events.

Penny participants at K. R. Hanchey are also competing to watch the games at DHS. Other penny prizes are free duty and lunch for the winning teacher. The school is also planning a “blue jean day” were penny donors can wear blue jeans to school on that day.

Incentives are in place parish-wide as well.

Clara Bruce, a Special Olympics coordinator for the parish, said, “Across the parish, if a class raises $50 or more they will have a coke party. If a class can raise $100 or more they will have a pizza party.”

East Beauregard Elementary has a poster indicating the progress of classes at the school, according to Betty Sykes.

“Our school has already raised over $100 on the first day and one class already has around $37,” Sykes said.

 
She added the classes are “going for a touchdown,” which indicates the class reaches the $100 mark. When they reach the 50-yard line they have raised $50 entitling them to a coke party.
All donations will benefit local participants in the Special Olympics.

“Our parish is the only one that pays for Olympians to eat meals during the Lake Charles meet and that’s due largely to the penny drive,” said Misty Arguello, a Special Olympics coordinator for the parish.

John Hyde, branch manager of Fist National Bank,West side, offers the service of the bank to help count and roll the pennies that are donated to Special Olympics.

“We count and roll the pennies as well as deposit them into an account,” Hyde said.

Bruce said, “We would like to thank everyone for their support of the Special Olympics through the penny drive because all of our Olympians are winners.”