The Woonsocket Elementary students held a penny war for a week to raise money for the 153rd National Guard Unit.
The 153rd is being activated in November with training in Texas to follow, then will be sent over to Kuwait.  They will still be in Texas at Christmastime, so they are fundraising to be able to come home for Christmas before heading overseas.
Three Woonsocket alumni are members of the 153rd: Tre Swenson, Ty Swenson and Marshall Freideman.
The students ended the week with a grand total of $1,546.18. The kindergarteners were the winners of the penny war and will be rewarded with extra PE and a snack.  The entire elementary will be rewarded with a movie and popcorn later in November.
The Penny War had an overwhelming response by all students.  The kindness of each student and their families was a true lesson of “paying it forward!” What an awesome community we live in!