Colorful 'Coinks' are Wareham's latest effort to help Hurricane Sandy victims
Dozens of Coinks have stormed Wareham businesses, offices, and classrooms, and more are expected to oink their way onto desks and sales counters in the coming weeks.
Coink is the mascot of the Wareham Hurricane Sandy Coalition, which is using piggy banks to raise money to help Oakwood Heights, a neighborhood in Staten Island, N.Y. that was hit hard during the October "superstorm."
The Coalition is working with Guyon Rescue, a volunteer-driven organization providing assistance to Staten Island families. Wareham residents collected a trailer full of much-needed supplies for the neighborhood, which volunteers dropped off in December.
Guyon Rescue volunteers say the greatest need now is for building supplies and gift cards to home improvement stores, so residents can begin rebuilding.
That's where Coink -- the combination of "coin" and "oink" -- comes in.
"Coink is a means for anyone who wants to help, regardless of age, ability, or finances," said Sally Morrison, who is organizing the Coink effort with Eastern Bank on Main Street.
Businesses and Wareham students are filling the Coinks with everything from pennies to dollar bills, with 100% of the collected funds going to Guyon Rescue.
"While a full Coink pork belly may not appear to make much of a dent in the mountain of need," Morrison said, "a pig posse surely will!"
The small blue piggy banks are decorated with a Band-aid and the words "Guyon Rescue" and "Change for the better."
Coink "adoptees" have been encouraged to personalize their Coinks, Morrison said.
Main Street pet groomer Jacks Are Wild's Coink is painted pink and purple. The ladies from the Looks Unlimited salon gave hair to their Coink.
Morrison has more big plans for the little pigs.
The three "High Hogs" who raise the most money each month receive a Coink keychain, certificate, and acknowledgement on WCTV.
Coink is getting a voice (Wareham summer resident, comedian and emcee Scott Record is helping in that department), and WCTV is producing public service announcements to ensure that the pig has its day.
Morrison said there may even be a pig roast in the future... just don't tell Coink.
Looking to donate to a Coink? Look for the colorful signs in businesses' windows. Want your own Coink? Contact Sally Morrison at sammorrison@comcast.net, or visit Rose Berry or Steven Marshall at Eastern Bank on Main Street.