A fun in-school coin challenge has helped raise nearly $1000 for Project Compassion, while teaching students the benefits of giving back. 

Students in all six houses at Mount St Joseph Milperra dug deep in their pockets for the Caritas Australia annual appeal raising much-needed funds for people living in poverty.  

Part of the challenge was to also see which house could make the longest coin line with its donated coins.

Mount St Joseph Milperra students inspect each others’ lines of coins.

For the third straight year Penola had the longest coin line, which is apt considering their House value is Hospitality.

Together Penola raised $313.75 in various coin denominations. 

“The school spirit really ignites when our school leaders roll up their sleeves and start the line up,” Amelia Ayoub, the Youth Ministry and Social Justice Coordinator at Mount St Joseph Milperra, said.

‘The donations keep getting better each year’

Currently the Guinness World Record for the longest line of coins measured 75.24 km and was made by pupils of BRG/BORG Kirchdorf in Austria, along with parents, teachers and volunteers, on 9 December 2011.

While students at Mount St Joseph did not break any records, they have outdone each other year on year with donations.

“The donations keep getting better each year and that’s because the school absolutely loves getting involved to support those in need,” Ms Ayoub said. “This initiative has been a long-time favourite with the students at Mount St Joseph.”

“One enthusiastic Penola student donated $50 worth of 5 cent …