Fulton Sun

Second-grader Keara Cottam scrounged around her home looking for change to donate to this year’s Callaway County United Way Penny Drive.

Searching the house was successful, as Cottam, 7, said she found money under her toy box and the living room chair.

She said donating to the penny drive was a good idea “because whoever doesn’t have a house and food — they make me sad, and I want to help lots of people.”

Cottam’s class — Molly Miller’s second grade room at McIntire Elementary School — tied with Jane Johnson’s fifth grade class at Bush Elementary School for bringing in the most money for the penny drive. Each school — McIntire and Bush — brought in about $2,000 and received a CCUW traveling trophy. Louis Schnoebelen’s science class at Fulton High School brought in the next highest amount for an individual class, and all three top classes won a pizza party and video camera for their efforts.

The total amount raised by the penny drive was $10,541.73.