First Lady Margaret Abela is visiting a number of schools around Malta and Gozo, collecting some of the more than 5,000 piggy banks which were distributed to classrooms last October.   Tonnes of coins - a mixture of the eight different denominations - as well as notes are now being taken for sorting and counting by Bank of Valletta, a mammoth task which will take several days.

Last year, the l-Istrina BOV Piggy Bank Campaign contributed over €115,000 to the Malta Community Chest Fund. 

This year, Bank of Valletta has pledged to match the amount collected from the schools, which will then be presented during l-Istrina on Boxing Day.

Students were encouraged to donate some of their pocket money to people in need. With every small donation children will be participating actively in the collection that will be utilised to help those in need. 

Bank of Valletta supports l-Istrina mill-Qalb 2012 as part of its extensive Community Relations Programme, one of the largest on the island.  Apart from the BOV Piggy Bank Campaign, the Bank also supports Paqpaqli ghall-Istrina, Rockesta, the August Moon Ball and Tisjir mill-Qalb, as well as encouraging its staff to take part in the President’s Fun Run by contributing half the registration fee.  This year, a record 880 Bank employees, family members and friends walked or ran in the event.