BRUNSWICK — For two weeks, students at St. John Catholic School in Brunswick searched high and low for pennies, from under car seats to below couch cushions. Their motivation was not personal gain, but instead, assisting an organization that helps others.

The students were collecting the pennies as part of Pennies for Patients, the proceeds of which were donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the world’s largest non-profit health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. Together, the St. John students collected $1,356.35, a grand total of 52,708 pennies.

“Stewardship is a part of the fabric of St. John Catholic School,” said Annie O’Rourke, the school’s director of advancement and development. “It was one of the eighth grade’s service projects and their enthusiasm was contagious. With help from the entire school, they exceeded their $1,000 goal.”

Each day, students from all grades deposited pennies in jars, with the eighth-grade students responsible for keeping up tallies of the collection on posters.

“Our students are blessed with so many things and advantages in their lives,” said Deborah Goering, principal at St. John. “When there is a chance to help them learn about helping others in need, we see this as a way to help them grow into caring Catholic adults. They realize how sick these other children are and they really want to do something meaningful for them.”

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society offers a wide variety of programs and services in support of their mission: “Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.”

For more information about Pennies for Patients, contact Principal Goering at 725-5507.