January 20, 2025
Local News

Malta Elementary School students raise nearly $2,019 for childhood cancer research

By Katrina J.E. Milton
Image 1 of 3

Malta Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Ryan Wood (from left) helps students Cashmierah White and Olivia Baldwin count money raised by other classes at school for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through the Pennies for Patients program. Since mid-February, the school has raised nearly $2,019 for the program. (Katrina J)

MALTA – Amy Hager, a fifth-grade teacher at Malta Elementary School, often tells her students, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” She didn’t think they’d take her advice literally and start collecting spare change.

Since mid-February, the two fifth-grade classes at Malta Elementary School have led their school in collecting spare change for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through the Pennies for Patients program. The program helps with lifesaving research for children battling blood cancers. LLS’ goal is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Teachers Ryan Wood and Amy Hager had their fifth-graders write letters to about 250 local businesses asking for at least $1 but not more than $5. Businesses that responded with a donation included Holcomb Bank, the Malta Police Department, Greg’s Garage, GameStop, Lovell’s Discount Tire, Alexis Kay Designs Inc., Dairy Queen, Almburg Auctions, the Junction Eating Place, Pizza Villa and Taco Bell. The Rockford Ice Hogs made the largest donation, $250.

“The idea of writing letters came from the beginning of the school year, when students wrote to colleges about their interests,” Wood said. “That idea spiraled to asking businesses to get involved with our penny project. It’s the first time we’ve ever done this, and I think it will become an annual school tradition.”

At an assembly on March 22, Wood announced that the elementary school made slightly less than their $2,019 goal; they have not yet received the Rockford Ice Hogs’ $250 check and are waiting to hear back from many businesses.

“I just want to say thank you to everybody that donated,” Wood said. “Thank you for your support and for helping students have a voice and make an impact. This entire project was student-led and student-driven, all we did was mail the letters. It shows the students that little things make a ripple effect.”

Fifth-graders Aysha Kimble and Aairianna Bloyd said they liked raising money for the program because they wanted to help other children live a normal, healthy life.

“We want to help others so they can be cured, so they can live a normal life without doctors and hospitals,” Kimble said.

“We raised money to help other children and their families,” Bloyd said. “We want to help find a cure and end cancer.”

Hager said that by helping raise money for the Pennies for Patients program, her students were able to help others and make a difference.

“We often tell our students to be the one that makes the change,” she said. “You have to be the change you want to see in the world.”

Donations for Pennies for Patients are still being accepted; donations can be dropped off at the school office or checks can be mailed to Malta Elementary School, 5068 IL Route 38, Malta, IL 60150.