Students at Adams Elementary School collected 30 bags of coins weighing 850 pounds during the recently concluded Penny Harvest fundraiser.

They exceeded their goal of 25 coin bags. In addition to the coins, $117 in bills were brought in by the students.

Each student went to family, friends and neighbors to ask for donations. Some wrote letters to people and others solicited coins from their parent's work places.

"It went great. We are really excited," said parent Bobbi Windus, Adam's Penny Harvest coordinator. He sons, Daniel and Peter, both students at Adams took part in the penny campaign.

Adams was just one of three schools in the Ballard area and 900 schools across the nation participating in Penny Harvest.

Each school will have an opportunity to decide which charities they want to donate the money to.

Mike Beebe, program director for Solid Ground, which ran the local Penny Harvest campaigns said students will use the money to meet community needs like food banks, park cleanup projects, animal welfare, children's health and other programs.

"After winter break, the students will research community needs and local charities. In the spring they'll give grants to the charities of their choice," said Windus.

Preliminary discussions among the kids have already revealed two preferences for where their money should go towards. The children are showing concern for homelessness and animal welfare.

"It's something they really latch onto, not having a place to stay and food," said Windus.

Students will decide where to donate their money at the end of January.