It began as a simple idea: wash out a few mayonnaise jars, set them out at a few willing businesses, and collect money to help needy children.
Robert “Bob” Manuel, a Korean War veteran from Elliot Lake, Ontario who was also responsible for getting recognition for Vimy Ridge Day, started “Koins for Kids” in 2005 hoping that people would donate their foreign coins and bills that they had lying around from vacation trips and military postings over the years.
Manuel created his own donation jars and then approached libraries, seniors’ centres, banks, hospitals, and legions to rally for their support. He then arranged to have Purolator courier the collected foreign coins (10 pounds at a time) free of charge to Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC), an international children’s charity that provides for needy families around the world.
To date, Koins for Kids has raised more than $1,500 through community support across Northern Ontario including Elliot Lake, Espanola, and North Bay - a remarkable amount considering all that money is “loose change”.
"Every time you turn on the TV, there’s another disaster and sometimes I think my work is just a drop in the bucket,” says Manuel. “But the bucket’s big and I think, "One drop at a time"."
Through CCFC, Koins for Kids has: protected children in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Tanzania from malaria and other diseases with insecticide-treated bed nets; equipped classrooms with desks, books, and stationary; contributed towards clean water projects in Ghana, and provided life-saving nutrition and medical care to non-sponsored children and their families.
“People like Mr. Manuel make a difference in the lives of children around the world,” says Mark Lukowski, CEO, CCFC. “I am particularly impressed by his long-term commitment to help children over the last five years.” Manuel hopes Koins for Kids can spread to other Canadian cities to assist more children.
“Volunteering gives me purpose in life (and keeps me off the couch),” he laughs. “It’s nice to be able to give back.”