At last count, students at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School had raised about $4,000 - that's 400,000 pennies - in their penny drive to help a Carson City girl who has a kidney disease.
"A lot of people and the students really identified with this little girl," said Jenny Rich, a parent volunteer at the school.
Fifth-grader Krystine Redmond spearheaded the drive, which ended Friday, to help 9-year-old Amanda Stewart, who recently received a kidney transplant.
Krystine and Amanda met while being treated at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University for nephrotic syndrome, the kidney disease they both have.
Although Krystine is able to lead a nearly normal life, Amanda's disease has progressed at a much more rapid rate.
"I feel really sorry for Amanda," Krystine said when the drive began. "It could be me. I just think if it were me, I would like people to help me."
So Krystine decided to help Amanda, and her classmates joined the effort. After an article appeared in the Nevada Appeal, several members of the community also donated money, including one man who wrote an $800 check.
Many also contributed on Amanda's Web site, amandas-story.com.
"We were very surprised," Rich said. "We couldn't believe that people would just read it in the paper and that they would care so much."
Lynn Giles, a close friend of Amanda's mom, Tracey Stewart, said the family appreciated the community's outreach.
"She was just so touched," Giles reported. "She had no idea Krystine had taken it to this extent."
Amanda's surgery a little more than a week ago was successful, but complications have ensued. Preliminary reports show the disease may have returned.
"Amanda's pleasant, but she's angry about having to be on the feeding tube again and angry because it's not all better," Giles related. "She's her normal feisty self, and she just wants to get on with her life."
Rich said there are still more pennies and other change to count before the total is delivered to Amanda and other charities.
The pennies were counted at Cactus Jack's Casino in Carson City.
"We're so grateful to them for doing it," Rich said. "So many other casinos don't want to bother with our little pennies."
Contact Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or at 881-1272.
