Piggy banks full of cash being handed out downtown Thursday

They say money doesn’t grow on trees, but it might just be thrown your way during your Thursday morning commute this week. Hundreds of piggy banks full of cash up to $1,000 will be given away between 7 and 9 a.m. tomorrow.

“Do hefty Vancouver housing prices have you pinching pennies?” The campaign, called #VancouverGetsIt asks. To demonstrate how much money Vancouverites are spending on housing, they will be constructing a house made of piggy banks, but the banks will then be given away – all 300 of them – to anyone who wants one.

Each piggy bank will be full of cash and commuters can win up to $1,000. “There is no catch – just simple financial help.”

The event is first come, first served beginning at 7 a.m., but organizers say there will be a lineup area where participants need to sign a waiver before approaching the piggy bank house. They expect the event to last two hours before all the piggy banks are given away.

The group behind this project is a secret, but will be announced tomorrow at the event.

“We’re going to have some fun tomorrow morning. We’re stealthily constructing a house of cash-filled Piggy Banks and inviting Vancouverites to pop down and pull one off the wall,” says an organizer of the mystery event which is being veiled using the hashtag #VancouverGetsIt.

“People are facing pretty hefty housing costs in the city and we want to give them a bit of a break – a little extra to help with other important financial goals. Tomorrow morning it might be $5 for their morning coffee, but it could be $100, $200 or even $1,000. We want people to start thinking about the larger picture of their financial well-being. A mortgage is a large part of that but there are other goals that set you up for success in the future and we want to help people reach those too.”

#VancouverGetsIt Piggy Bank Giveaway

Where: 1075 West Georgia St. – corner of Georgia and Thurlow St., Vanocuver

When: Thursday, May 28; 7 to 9 a.m. – people are encouraged to get there early!