Dowagiac Fire Department Lt. Robert Nelson, Gunnery Sgt. Kenneth Lebeda of the Marine Corps Toys for Tots and Justus Gage Principal Marcy Hendress with Deny White and Hannah Dorton, representing Mrs. Hartsig’s first-place classroom.

Justus Gage Elementary School proved pennies pile up.

During a short assembly Thursday afternoon, students brought about change, converting proceeds from their penny challenge into a $1,206.42 check for Marine Corps Toys for Tots, accepted by Gunnery Sgt. Kenneth Lebeda, assisted in Dowagiac by Fire Department Lt. Robert Nelson.

“All of you helped with Toys for Tots,” Hendress addressed the student body gathered in the gymnasium.

“You did an outstanding job raising money with your penny drive, which will help us buy toys for kids in Cass County whose parents might need help so Santa brings enough so everyone can have something under the tree,” Lebeda said. “I take care of all of this county. By you guys bringing in your pennies and robbing your parents’ piggy banks  — I hear all kinds of stories from people I work with about how they sent backpacks to lug in that were too heavy.”

Lebeda mimes tipping over backward from the weight.

“Know that you guys helped make a difference for another kid in this county so they have Christmas. I thank you for that,” he said.

“Our school raised $1,206.42 working together as a team,” Hendress said, announcing the top three fundraising classes: Ronna Page, third; Nancy Northrop, second; and Diane Hartsig, first.