Seniors recall a time when a penny bought something
Hellie McLelland, left, Diana Brigel, Norma White, Edouard Smith, Lillian Cottam and Claudia Morrow gather at the Monterey Recreation Centre for a visit. They offered up some interesting stories about the value of pennies in days past.
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Updated: November 19, 2009 9:37 AM
Annual coin drive will help brighten season
It’s hard to remember when a penny could buy anything – even for those who have been around the longest.
There was a time, though, when a penny could put a smile on a child’s face by buying a stick of gum, a jawbreaker or a couple sticks of black licorice.
In that, the value of a penny hasn’t changed. It can still bring joy to children at Christmas, as part of this year’s Black Press Pennies for Presents campaign.
Edouard Smith, sitting at Monterey Recreation Centre last week, said there’s another thing that hasn’t changed about a penny.
“One thing that hasn’t changed is ‘see a penny, pick it up, all the day you’ll have good luck,’” he said, reciting the age-old poem.
“A lot of people in the Depression didn’t even have a penny to spend,” Hellie McLelland noted. She added that small change went further at the store when she was young – 39 cents bought two pounds of ground beef.
Inflation has brought those days to a firm close, but your loose change is no less important.
This year, Pennies for Presents supports the Victoria Women’s Transition House, Santas Anonymous, Salvation Army and the Mustard Seed. Change is welcomed at the Black Press office at 818 Broughton St. until Dec. 11.
ecardone@vicnews.com
