A single penny often seems insignificant and small, perceived to be a thing of little value. With the right perspective, however, a penny can be seen as the foundation for something much bigger – hope.
The Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse provides haven and hope for numerous children and families across West Tennessee each year; and this year the Chester County Center will be building a Wall of Hope, one penny at a time.
The idea to install a penny wall at the local center began with a brainstorm to support the children and grew into an idea full of symbolism. Chester County Director Kirbi Fahs said they were searching for an idea “to help kids feel seen and heard,” and hearing the suggestion of a penny wall to represent the past 35 years of service agreed, thinking, “A penny wall is fun and unique.” It was decided to cover a back wall in the center with pennies representing the number of children the Chester County Center has served since the doors first opened in 1987 – around 3,500. Last year the center provided services for 96 children in Chester County.
As Fahs, area directors and local supporters began to prepare for the penny project, new layers began to unveil. The initial idea came from a patron of the center, who explained that over the years, pennies became a way to remember the center. The patron, who requested to remain anonymous, said when seeing a penny on the ground, “I picked it up and prayed for any need our center might have to meet the needs of our children and staff. The penny became a symbol to pray for our center. As time passed, I found more pennies on the ground than I could ever remember for several years.”
The practice continues today with each penny that is seen, the patron continued. “More importantly, it has been a time that God brought the Center’s mission to mind for me to pray for the staff, children and families.”
The number of pennies found on the ground seems to relate to their perceived value, the insignificance of a single one-cent coin, the patron suggests. “Why are there more pennies on the ground than other coins? For me, I believe it is their value is so small in our eyes that most won’t stop to pick them up when dropped. Their value has declined to the point that even the government has decided to stop making them because their cost is more than their value.”
Much like the discarded pennies, the children who are served by the center often feel insignificant, small, overlooked. The patron said, “(I’m) so thankful for the center and the value they place on rescuing each child and giving them a foundation to find their worth! So many times, our society walks past them without noticing their pain, but more importantly, their value. Let us always remember the Lord said we are fearfully and wonderfully made. I pray each child who passes through our center learns their value and their worth to themselves through those that encourage, protect, and show them true love by the staff at Chester County Carl Perkins Center. Let us never forget that each child has value as we create our penny wall.”
Fahs looks forward to the impact the penny wall will have on the children receiving service at the center. Children will see the wall and know “that every single penny is a kid that has been served by this center since we first opened our doors,” she said. Children will be able to see that they are not alone, that others have traveled the same path. Every child has a story, and every story deserves to be seen – each penny represents a story. In addition to the impact the wall will have on the center’s children, supporters will also now have a tangible example of the work done by the center in Chester County.
Children who receive services at the local in the future will have an opportunity to add their own penny to the wall.
“I think it’s the icing on the cake,” said Carl Perkins Center VP Delaine Bottoms.
The community is invited to help build the wall of hope. Penny bags, if desired, will be distributed at organizations around town with drop-off days at the center, 195 Record Dr., set aside for Tuesdays and Thursdays.
A little change can make a big difference.
