STC 4th grade teacher, Amy Parizek, reveals the total raised for the STC Food Pantry after a Penny War competition was held between the 4th grade classes on Friday, December 20. STC Food Pantry treasurer, Charlene Applegate (left), was on hand to accept the check on behalf of the food pantry. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham

For the past several years the South Tama fourth grade classes have participated in a friendly competition for a good cause. The competition referred to as “Penny Wars” is held in lieu of a gift exchange.

Each classroom has a container for collecting pennies. The object of the contest is to be the class with the most pennies. The twist on the competition is that classes can donate coins such as nickles and dimes and even dollar bills to other classes. The idea is that anything that isn’t a penny actually works negatively towards the classes total amount. The class who is the least negative won a paper snowball fight in the elementary gym.

All of the money collected goes to benefit the STC Food Pantry. Last year the fourth graders made just over $500. This year the students nearly doubled those efforts raising a whopping $924.83.

Longtime STC fourth grade teacher, Amy Parizek, kept the fourth graders in suspense at the reveal on Friday, December 20. The fourth graders gathered in their pod common area and waited in anticipation to find out the total raised. Parizek used an easel and flip chart to keep the students engaged and waiting with baited breath. As she flipped the page revealing the total, students erupted in applause learning their efforts paid off.

STC Food Pantry treasurer, Sharlene Applegate was on hand for the big reveal. Applegate shared with the fourth graders that their fundraising efforts would help feed around 100 families in the community.

As for the winner of the snowball fight, well it went to Natasha Becker’s classroom.