ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network) — About one-third of Mennonite Church USA congregations have ordered mission banks for more than 8,000 children to use in Sunday school, vacation Bible school and at home.

“We put money in our piggy banks for ourselves, but it would be nice to put money in a piggy bank to give to someone else,” Marisa Aleman-Cantu told her pre-school class at Templo Alabanza Menonita in Moline, Ill.

Aleman-Cantu said learning to give, even as early as age 2 or 3, builds character and instills a love of sharing children will carry with them as they grow. “When I told them they would take a bank home too they were really excited, and even more excited that they could put the offering in the globe,” she said.

Piggy banks for collecting money to give to God are blue, semi-opaque globes etched with the shape of the continents. The Mission Network banks are accompanied by a teaching packet, “Helping God Do Great Things: Building Friendships.” The games, stories and stewardship lessons can be used in a variety of settings.

Money children raise this summer will support La Casa Grande (The Big House), an orphanage in Benin, West Africa. The orphanage, supported by the Mission Network and Burgos (Spain) Mennonite Church, provides a family structure and the opportunity for education to more than 20 children. Summer Bible camp organized by La Casa Grande gives an additional opportunity for more than 100 children to learn about Jesus.