Washington state man tries raising $1M in pennies

[February 08, 2011]  MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) -- A man is trying to raise $1 million -- in pennies -- to help needy families in a Washington state town.

The Skagit Valley Herald reports Rand O'Donnell has already raised more than $4,000 for the "Mountain of Hope" fund for Mountain Vernon families. He recently used a wheelbarrow to deposit 56,600 pennies -- $566 -- at the north Coast Credit Union. The load weighed more than 300 pounds. O'Donnell hopes the fund will generate enough interest income to provide a steady source of revenue for the Skagit County Community Action Agency, which helps families with emergency food, fuel and clothing. ___ Information from: Skagit Valley Herald, http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com/ [Associated Press] Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.