What started out as an activity to include the children of the First Congregational Church of Wiscasset in its worship service has turned out to be an important fundraiser for St. Philip’s Food Pantry.

On the last Sunday of the month, worshipers at First Congo are given the opportunity to get rid of any loose change that might be rattling around in their pockets or purses. Four children carrying small colorful metal pails, like those one might see on the beach, collect a “noisy offering” of coins, the sound sometimes muffled by dollar bills.

The practice of collecting a noisy offering began several years ago and the first collections averaged around $50. As time passed, parishioners obviously looking forward to noisy offering Sunday, can be seen emptying plastic food storage bags of coins into the pails. In recent months, contributions to the food pantry from the noisy offering have exceeded $170.

All funds raised from the noisy offering are donated to St. Philip’s Food Pantry.

The First Congregational Church of Wiscasset is located on the common at 28 High Street.