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What do you call a group of pigs? Until recently, I’m not sure I could have answered this question, but, as a result of running into several groups of pigs in the last couple of months, I found the need to educate myself.

Wait! Have I lost you already? Let me clear things up. I am talking about all those little pigs you can find sitting on the countertops of businesses all over town. These white porcelain piggy banks, playfully painted by students of the Borrego Springs Children’s Center, are the brainstorm of Teresa West, the Center’s Director, and Cal Hoskins, the General Manager of Frugal Coyote, the Center’s thrift shop. “For about 5 years, the piggy bank was only here in our thrift store,” said Cal, “and then, one day, the bank was broken. Teresa and I were talking about getting another piggy bank to replace it and she had the great idea of making a whole group of pigs to distribute to businesses all over town.”

Teresa’s plan was to draw attention to the Center and to raise a little extra money in the process. Her plan is working. Offering preschool, full day and half day care, Borrego Springs Children’s Center serves children from 18 months to 8 years of age and has the capacity to care for up to 32 children. “We are the only licensed preschool in Borrego,” Teresa said. “We take good care of all our kids and they remember us forever. Just the other day one of our kids, who was 18 months old when she came here and is now in the 3rd grade, came up to me in town to tell me she misses the Center. My biggest joy is those moments— is knowing I have given something of myself to my children.”

So, what can you do to make sure Teresa and her staff can continue to give? Lots! You can donate your unused treasures to the Center’s Frugal Coyote Thrift Shoppe (or shop there to acquire someone else’s treasure!). You can donate toys, books, sports equipment, etc. directly to the Center. Or, how about this: you can write a check to the Center (they are a tax-deductable 501-C3) and, by writing “Orange Book Matching Challenge” in the memo section of your check, you can be a part of turning our matching challenge into $500 for the Center.

By the way, the correct word for a group of pigs could be any of the following: drove, herd, litter, farrow, or sounder. Who knew!

Borrego Springs Children’s Center
580 Circle J Drive
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
760-767-3658

Frugal Coyote Thrift Shoppe
2406 Stirrup Road
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
760-767-4608