J.R. Peroni is helping to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House in Denver

DENVER, Colorado (CNN) -- J.R. Peroni reasoned that decorating his car with pennies would be cheaper than a new paint job. Then he hit on an idea about how to drive up the value of his car further -- use it to help with the annual penny fund-raising campaign of the Ronald McDonald House.

Ronald McDonald House, which shelters out-of-town families with hospitalized children, collected nearly $1.6 million worth of pennies in its campaign last year, and expects Peroni's car to rev up more donations this year.

Peroni and his penny car will be making six stops around the Denver area during the next six days.

KUSA in Denver contributed to this report.