Don’t be fooled by the name of Southland High School’s recent “penny wars.” The drive brought in $4,127.14 to buy toys for area children.

Southland ninth- through 12th-grade students held the penny war to fundraise for the KAAL Toys for Tots toy drive. Pennies were positive points, and anything larger were negative points. The group with the most points in their jars at the end, won. The six-day competition included both teachers and students.

“Our goal was to raise $3,000, and then our students just went above and beyond to help the community,” language arts teacher Katie Jakubek said.

On Friday, the students shopped at Walmart and Target in Austin, filling carts with toys to donate to the drive. The students bought toys for all ages, including sleds, Playstation video games, skateboards, princess dolls and costumes, toddler walkers, a bike, and more.

Jakubek hoped to show the community that even a small school with about 180 students participating in a drive could make a big difference.