By Ashley Henry

A lot of people want to discontinue the lowly penny but some kids in Queens found a good use for the outmoded coin yesterday.

At the Atlas Park shopping center in Middle Village,Queens, Bobbi
and the Strays, an adoption agency for abused and abandoned animals
received a nice donation from the pre-school class of Dry Harbor
playschool.

Collecting pennies since september 2007, Mrs. Roberta Maureau and her
class of 20 students counted their change at a local Commerce Bank and
were able to donate $500 to the animal shelter,beating last year’s
collection of $371.

“This is about compassion and responsiblity,” said Angelo Russo, manager
of the Commerce bank, that donated an additional $250 making the grand
total in donations $750.

“They actually learned about compassion and how a little bit can go a
long way” said Maureau of the children.

Once the change was counted and the check was signed, the children were
rewarded for all their hard work with juice boxes and cupcakaes before
walking over to Bobbi and the strays to present the check.

“I’m totally overwhelmed,” said Bobbi Giordano, owner of the adoption
agency. “They are a special group of children and they are learning to
share and how to care for animals.”

Bobbi’s six-month-old pomeranian barked in appreciation.