Jennifer Sirak, children’s librarian
The Lambertville Free Public Library wishes to thank and congratulate all of our patrons who participated in our Pennies for Peace cultural education campaign, raising $172.81! This was a NJ State Library program tied to the New York Times best-seller, “Three Cups of Tea.” All funds collected will be will be used to build school libraries in Pakistan and Afghanistan .
Library patrons, especially the children, were invited to honor Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday by collecting pennies. Lincoln firmly believed in education, equality, opportunity and peace. To help continue his legacy, the State Library encouraged all New Jersey libraries to participate in the Pennies for Peace Campaign. Pennies for Peace is an international program sponsored through the Central Asia Institute co-founded by Greg Mortenson, the subject of the best-selling biography, “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School At A Time.”
How can a penny bring peace? It doesn’t buy much in New Jersey. But in the villages of Pakistan and Afghanistan , a region where terrorist organizations recruit uneducated, illiterate children, a school built by those villagers through millions of donated pennies, empowers both boys and girls to read, write, and learn.
Our children learned the value of philanthropy by collecting pennies in plastic water bottles, which they brought to the Lambertville Library on March 5. Pizza and Abe Lincoln’s favorite cake fueled the many workers as they shared a social evening while counting thousands of pennies.
Our thanks to the all those who donated, collected, and counted, especially the LPS second grade, Ian, Lily, Julia, Will, Johnny, Cady, Emily, Sophia, Adelaide, Jeanna and her grandfather, Lauren, Catharine, Ava, Brandy, Carrie and Liz; Erica Rubine, Christine Miller, Piper & Brian Trelstad, Joe Petrucci, Charlie Groth, Sharon Hallahan, and Jen and Tim Duggann.

