How much does a penny weigh?

Do you know how much a penny weighs? 2.5 grams (for the metrically challenged, that's about .088 ounces).

Why do I care?? Stick with me for a minute....

So how much is 10 pounds of pennies worth? For the math challenged I'll show all the steps (if I weren't math challenged myself I might not have needed all the steps!)

10 pounds = 4,535.9237 grams

4,534.9237 grams divided by 2.5 grams = 1814.3708 pennies = $18.14 (I can't think about .3708 pennies, can you?)

OK...all that said...WHY DO I CARE????

Southwood's kids are scouring couch cushions, pants pockets, and even the laundry room for spare change. Why? Pennies for the People...it's the kids' way of participating in Southwood's Look Beyond journey. Now through March 30, they're collecting pennies (and nickels, dimes, and quarters) and bringing them in to fill big jugs. They're learning about how God can use the gifts they give from the heart...and how God multiplies what they offer to do great things (just like Jesus did with the loaves and fishes).

There's a friendly competition among the age groups and so far the little kids are setting the pace!

Pre-K/K-- 20.5 pounds
1st & 2nd -- 8.5 pounds
3rd - 5th -- 15.5 pounds

That's a total of 44.5 pounds OR about $80.72 after just one week! But $80.72 is definitely a lower bound estimate since we know the jugs have nickels, dimes, and quarters in them too...not just pennies. I wonder what the final total will be...and I'm excited that my kids are seeing first hand God's power to multiply the gifts they offer him with a cheerful heart.

Click here for pictures of the kids bringing their pennies...and making a banner to share the idea of cheerful giving with the whole congregation.

Kim