Kids Dropping Dimes for Dreams

Plastic water bottles at Sowams School in Barrington are being filled with "dimes for dreams" – about $100 worth in each 16-ounce container.

"It’s the Helping Hands Project for second-graders at the school this year," said Jessica McDonnell, the second-grade teacher coordinating the project. It started on Monday, Feb. 6, and ends this Friday, Feb. 17.

Each bottle will go to the Kids for Wish program of the Make-A-Wish Foundation that grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.

“We asked the pupils to do a good deed or a chore at home for $1, to be paid in dimes,” said McDonnell. “And then bring the money to school.

The more good deeds done, the more dimes collected. Each good deed is posted on a paper cloud cutout in the hallway near the office just inside the front entrance.

Among the good deeds written on the clouds so far:

• Cleaned room and cleared the table
• Helped to cook
• Fed the cat and dog
• Set the table and washed dishes
• Cooked for the Super Bowl
• Played nicely with my brother
• Loaded and unloaded the dishwasher
• Babysat baby brother
• Filled the firewood holder
• Cleaned dad’s workshop
• Brought groceries into the house
• Read to my brother
• Cleaned the fishbowl

Dimes also are being dropped into the bottles from anyone in the school who wants to make a dream come true, said McDonnell.

Driving by Sowams School?

Stop by before the end of the week. The pupils will be happy to drop some of your loose change into the water bottles.