This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Scotty Nelson, a 29-year-old West Valley City resident, has been making an unusual request of cashiers: Give the change in pennies.
And his classmates in an educational program run by Salt Lake County's felony drug court have been picking coppers off the pavement, searching beneath couch cushions and putting aside every penny.
On Thanksgiving, the students, who are working on turning their own lives around, hope to give a boost to others who are down on their luck. Nelson and his classmates are pitching pennies into a jar to provide holiday feasts for homeless men and women at the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake.
"A lot of us have been homeless before," said Nelson, who spent four months on the streets in 2009 due to his drug addiction. "I try to donate every day. I've always got spare change, a few pennies. How many times do we drop them on the ground and not pick them up?"
The penny drive began with a lesson on empathy in teacher Meredith Franck's communication class last month. The nearly 50 students in Franck's four classes have been charged with drug-related crimes. In drug court, they meet regularly with a judge, undergo treatment and counseling, submit to random drug tests and attend classes. If they graduate, after a year or longer, their charges are dismissed.
"If I can teach them that they are not victims of their past, their past does not define them and they have to decide to do the right thing, then I have done my job," Franck said.
Franck's students initially were "confused" by the concept of empathy, she said. The class was discussing how people often give to those who are less fortunate during the holidays.
One student, Franck recalled, said he couldn't give anything because he was one of the "unfortunates" who should receive charity. Another student felt undeserving of anyone's generosity. Many said they simply could not afford to give, with one insisting, "I don't have two pennies to rub together."
But others said pennies, at least, are easy to come by.
Franck latched onto the penny idea. She told students it costs $1.83 for the Salt Lake City Mission, which is not affiliated with the Rescue Mission, to feed a homeless person on Thanksgiving. That's just 183 pennies, she said.
The students decided they could scrape together enough to provide Thanksgiving dinner for one person. Franck asked that only pennies be donated. No nickels, no dimes, no dollars. Everyone can spare a penny. Or find one.
Pennies began dropping into a glass jar. Franck had to put out additional containers after the penny drive opened up to all employees and students who pass by her office at Salt Lake County Criminal Justice Services.
"It's a great feeling to help someone who can't help themselves. It makes me feel grateful for the things I have," said Lareisha Wilkes, a 24-year-old student. "When you think about it, every little penny adds up."
Last week, Jason Park, a 41-year-old classmate, counted the pennies during Franck's class: 4,286.
Park said he felt embarrassed by his age. Most of his classmates are in their 20s. Drug convictions kept Park in prison intermittently for 14 years. He missed the chance to say goodbye to 13 family members who died while he was locked up.
"I don't have no excuse. I should have learned," Park said. "Drug court, it's helping for sure."
With $42.86, the students can feed 44 people at Rescue Mission of Salt Lake's Thanksgiving banquet on Wednesday. Those meals cost 97 cents each. More pennies have trickled in since Park's count. Franck expects the total will grow to $60 or more.
Chris Croswhite, executive director of the Rescue Mission, says many of the homeless individuals who eat and sleep at the mission are also members of felony drug court seeking recovery from addictions.
"I am continually amazed at how people who don't have dollars to give, will give their pennies," says Croswhite. "Every penny adds up when you are looking to feed a person and to change their life."
Holiday meal donation
Rescue Mission of Salt Lake • Feed a table of 25 at Thanksgiving for $24.25, http://www.rescuesaltlake.org.
Salt Lake City Mission • Provide a Thanksgiving dinner for $1.83 per person, http://www.saltlakecitymission.org.
Utah Food Bank • Every $1 donated provides $7 worth of food and services, http://www.utahfoodbank.org.
Other help • For more ideas on ways to help this holiday season, please go to http://www.sltrib.com/giving.