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Secondary STEPS Program (Success Through Effective Positive Support) consists of students from Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker Junior High and High School, Bad Axe Junior High and High School, and North Huron Elementary and High School. They're collecting pennies for Pennies for Peace, through Central Asia Institute, a non-profit organization that promotes this fundraiser.

"They use the money collected to fund schools in Central Asia, specifically in mountain regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. No other group is reaching out to this population," added Mossner.

According to Mossner, the penny buys a pencil in these countries. "And with a pencil, children can become literateÉand the very long-term goal of all this is that these literate and educated children grow up to make good, peaceful decisions for themselves and their country," she added.

Many local businesses are involved including McDonald's, Wendy's, Little Caesars, Hungry Howies, Dunham's, Dairy Queen, Burger King, Mr. Chips, Northgate Tire, which have the canisters on display and Bad Axe Junior High, Bad Axe High School, North Huron Elementary and the Huron Area Tech Center.

"Independent Bank provides us with all the penny rolls," said Mossner. "Also, two anonymous donors dropped off two cans full and a big bag of pennies at the Tech Center."

The STEPS goal is to collect $300 - and so far they have $102.

"The students in the STEPS program thought it would be important to help buy school supplies for other students," said Mossner. "They thought this would be a good place to help since it doesn't take much money from us to make a big impact."

"This is actually the first time since I've been here that we have reached out to help others... and I'd like to say 'thank you' to those who have helped out or donated already," added Mossner.

All canisters will be collected by the end of May.