Travellers passing through YVR are being asked to dig deep into their wallets, purses and pockets in the name of charity.
YVR is calling on passengers and the airport community to donate their pennies to help fund lunches for children in need this summer.
"Many kids rely on school lunch programs for healthy food," said Elizabeth Crudgington, executive director of Quest Food Exchange, a nonprofit organization that helps those in need access affordable, healthy food. "When schools are closed in the summer, providing lunch can be an extra burden for families that are already struggling financially."
From June 13 to 28, YVR will be collecting pennies to benefit Quest Food Exchange. With the money raised, food vouchers will be provided to families with children to shop in Quest's three not-for-profit grocery markets.
As little as $30 (or 3,000 pennies) can provide a month of lunches for a child.
Travellers and the general public can donate their change at one of two coin collection kiosks, located at the international and domestic terminal food courts.
The penny drive is an extension of the airport long-standing post-security coin ball program, through which travellers donate their change.
"Especially now that the penny is being eliminated, we felt we could put all that change to good use in our community," said Anne Murray, YVR's VP of community and environmental affairs.
In addition to collecting travellers' pennies, the airport is challenging its internal departments and Sea Island businesses to a friendly competition to see which group can collect the most pennies. The coins will be weighed, and winners declared, at a public weigh-in on June 28.
YVR began its partnership with Quest in February 2011. To date, the Sea Island community has donated $120,000 in cash through sponsorship and fundraising initiatives and has donated more than $125,000 worth (or approximately 1,650kg) of food.
acampbell@richmond-news.com
