VIDALIA — When working on a big project, every little bit counts, and at Vidalia Junior High School this week the students have been joining the fight against cancer one penny at a time.

The school’s 4-H club is spearheading a weeklong Pennies for Patients program, which raises funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“All of the money goes to the kids who have cancer, and it goes to their meds,” said 13-year-old Shelby Riley, who is the 4-H club’s service chair. “I feel good doing it. I am glad I can help them.”

Riley isn’t the only one who has helped, though. As of Thursday, the school had raised $806.93 in change, and 4-H coordinator Belinda Freeman said one classroom produced $115 in change in a single morning.

“Last year, we raised $1,500 in pennies, and this year our goal is $1,800,” Freeman said.

“Our kids are good for raising money for charity. They have big hearts like that.”

To reach the $1,800 goal, Principal Whest Shirley approved an unorthodox incentive — if the students raise the money to meet the goal, the school’s eighth grade teachers have to show up for school Monday in pajamas, slippers and hair rollers.

“The students love to see us weird,” Freeman said.

Eighth grader William Anderson, who has helped push the drive with posters, collection boxes and hosting a leukemia discussion, said he thinks the newest incentive will help the school push the collections over the top.

“I have told everybody, ‘Bring your change, bring your change, bring your change,’” Anderson said.

Administrative assistant Brenda Greenlee has been spending her days this week counting pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and pocket lint, and while it’s a tedious process, it’s worth it, she said.

“Cancer affects so many people, I’m not sure you can ever raise enough money,” she said.