By Taylor Boyd
A Penny Drive is set to be held next month to support the purchase of the Penny House in Patrick Springs.
The drive-thru event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9 at the Stuart Rotary Field.
Sue Hall, of the Lord’s Acre Committee, said because of COVID-19 concerns people can just drive up and drop their pennies off without needing to get out of their car.
“We usually have a Lord’s Acre Sale that second Saturday of every October, but we’re not having one this year and we didn’t have one last year. We just decided to have a penny drive and all the proceeds will go to the Penny House,” she said.
The group is in the process of purchasing the Penny House, a home in Patrick Springs that will accommodate victims of housefires while they are trying to get back on their feet. The group also helps those staying in the home with finding a jobs, purchasing medicine for seniors, and buying gas cards with the money raised during the annual sale.
Hall said the group has leased the property from the owner for the last 25 years for $1 per year. The owner is asking for $25,000 for the house, and it will be paid for in installments.
Susan Nobblet, also of the Lord’s Acre Committee, said the house is worth about three times the price of what the group is paying.
“Now that we’re looking to purchase it, we’re going to have to hook up to city water and pay the taxes and everything,” she added.
After the event the committee will get together to count and organize the pennies.
“Usually, we have $1,500 to $1,600 just in pennies, and that helps us pay from one year to the next,” Nobblet said.
Penny containers for donations have also been placed in different businesses in the county, including Liberty Home Care Services and the Wood Brothers Racing Museum.
Businesses interested in obtaining a penny container can call Hall at (276) 692-8732.