Look what 10,000,000 pennies can build here

NEWS RELEASE

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SAULT STE. MARIE AND AREA

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Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie and Area to collect 10-million pennies to build a home - it just makes 'cents'

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON (April 2) - Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie and Area will collect 10 million pennies to build a home for another low-income family.

Ten million pennies equates to $100,000 – the cost of the materials required to build a home for a low-income family in this area.

“With the federal government announcement that the penny will no longer be in production as of this fall, we’re calling on all Sault area residents to donate pennies that have collected in their drawers, change trays, and pockets, so that another family can receive the hand up of a home they can afford,” said Linda Lewis, president of the board of directors for HFHSSMA.

HFHSSMA will be collecting pennies at their affiliate office and ReStore, located at 32 White Oak Drive East (corner of North Street and Second Line East).

“Ten million pennies will form a cube about 2 m. by 2m. by 2 m., will weigh 25,000 kg, and if the pennies were stacked one on top of the other they would reach 15.8 kilometers high. Facilitating a fundraiser like this will be a ton of work, actually 25 tonnes, but if it will mean that another low-income family will access affordable homeownership, it will be more than worth it,” said Ms. Lewis.

Part of a national initiative, Habitat for Humanity affiliates and ReStores across Canada will be accepting donated pennies with the ultimate goal of collecting 690 million, enough so that each of the 69 Habitat affiliates in Canada can build one more home.

In Canada, Habitat has given the hand up of affordable homeownership to over 2,000 families.

Habitat homes are sold to low-income families though interest free mortgages with no down-payment required, allowing families to break the cycle of poverty.

About Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie and Area

Habitat for Humanity is an independent, non-profit housing program dedicated to building affordable homes in partnership with families.

Homeowners contribute “sweat equity” volunteer hours and then repay a long term, interest free mortgage. 

Since 2004, six families have partnered with HFHSSMA to build homes.

These builds were possible with the generous support of many individuals, groups and businesses within the community. 

Dozens of volunteers have contributed hundreds of hours of labour on each house.

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