A pocketful of change might not be missed, but when about 10,000 pocketfuls are combined, it can make a pretty wonderful Christmas gift to an area charity.

&#8220It really adds up,” said Ann Haden, GATES teacher at Beechwood and school coordinator of the annual Penny Harvest to benefit the Warren County Children’s Shelter.

Beechwood, along with all the other public schools and Vicksburg Catholic School, helped raise $17,587.86 – including more than $15,000 in coins – to pass along.

The Penny Harvest has been going on for at least 10 years, said Peggy Thomas, program director at the shelter. In the years past, the campaign has raised from $10,000 to $17,000, she said.

&#8220This was an amazing amount of money to be raised,” Thomas said.

The schools were able to start collecting money on Nov. 1, but some waited until crunch time two weeks ago, Thomas said.

The incentive was a pizza party for the class that raised the most at each school and a trophy for the top school, but it was also the Christmas spirit that made students want to give, Haden said.

There’s another element, too. &#8220These kids are also just very competitive,” Haden said.

The money – collected in 5-gallon water jugs – weighed a total of about 8,250 pounds and was picked up Monday by Brian Lott and John Robert Ward, two employees of DIMCO Inc., and counted at the DIMCO offices before being deposited.

&#8220It’s definitely a workout,” Lott said Monday. &#8220These can weigh up to 150 pounds each, and we have to pick up 55 of these today.”

Thomas said she is always impressed by the student efforts.

&#8220We count on this as our biggest fundraiser. The money always goes to things that directly affect the children, such as gifts, school fees, clothes and weekend outings,” she said.

The shelter serves 130 children each year, Thomas said.

&#8220It’s just so wonderful that it’s children helping children in this fundraiser. It’s very heartwarming and it shows we’re teaching our children valuable life lessons,” she said.

SCHOOL BY SCHOOL.

Beechwood Elementary $6,108.78.

Warren Central Intermediate $1,747.93.

Vicksburg Intermediate $1,622.33.

Redwood Elementary $1,490.22.

Bowmar Elementary $1,482.76.

South Park Elementary $1,279.33.

Sherman Avenue Elementary $1,107.83.

Vicksburg Catholic Schools $656.87.

Dana Road Elementary $587.95.

Warrenton Elementary $432.84.

Grove Street School $273.55.

Vicksburg High $215.36.

Warren Central Junior High $203.49.

Vicksburg Junior High $189.31.

Warren Central High $189.31