Christ Lutheran School students donate over 200 jars of peanut butter and jelly to Caring Center
Students from Christ Lutheran School donated 220 peanut butter and jelly jars to the Cape Coral Caring Center Friday afternoon.
Coach Chris Casey said this is the 10th year the students have gathered jars to be donated to the Caring Center.
The students began collecting jars for the food bank about two weeks for the annual drive, which also included a walk and sermon from the pastor about how their donations help feed the hungry.
Casey said the children learn that their donations of peanut butter and jelly “help other families have a nice meal as well for Thanksgiving.” He explained that it brings awareness to the kids that there are families out there who are less fortunate then them.
After 10 5th-grade students delivered the boxes of peanut butter and jelly to the center, they received a tour of the facility to get a behind the scenes look at how the Caring Center is set up and organized.
Julie Ferguson, operations manager of the Caring Center, said the peanut butter and jelly Christ Lutheran School donated will go a long way because they include a jar of both into every emergency bag that is sent from the center.
Ferguson said peanut butter and jelly is a staple item because it is easy for the children to make their own sandwich, along with it being nutritional for them to eat.
The emergency bag also includes up to three different kinds of canned meat, fruits, vegetables and soup, a box of cereal, beans, rice, canned pasta, spaghetti noodles and sauce, macaroni and cheese, toilet paper and soap.
She explained that the center receives the bulk of donations before Jan. 1, which it has to make last due since the busiest time of the year is in the summer.
Principal Iris Mitchell said the peanut butter and jelly drive “teaches our kids to be Christ’s hands and feet to meet the needs of those who are less fortunate.”
Last year the school donated approximately 300 jars to the Caring Center.