The Student Council raised $622 in its Pennies for Patients fundraising campaign. The donations will support research into the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma, two cancers of the blood that commonly afflict young people.

The drive ran for several weeks, accepting donations primarily during lunch and Period 9.  Mrs. Monaghan, Student Council advisor, said that she thought, "That it would be easy for people to donate after lunch when they had change.” 

Scituate is among the 195 Rhode Island schools that participates in the Pennies for Patients program.  Last year, these schools collectively raised $300,000 for the cause. 

Despite the financial challenges that caused this year’s drive to fall short of its original goal, the Student Council does not stand discouraged. 

“I think that there are people with relatives affected by cancer,” said Mrs. Monaghan.  “That makes it more personal.  There were some individuals who donated quite a bit multiple times.”

The Pennies for Patients drive was only one of several donation drives held in Scituate this year.  Invisible Children recently ran a highly successful drive to help the people of Uganda, and the Special Education department is currently holding another for children with autism.