10th annual PB&J Challenge kicks off to help feed hungry children
MILWAUKEE -- The 10th annual PB&J Challenge kicked off Monday, October 1st. Students at participating elementary, middle and high schools are encouraged to donate peanut butter and jelly at their school to help feed hungry children -- through the Feeding America program.
At Whitefish Bay Middle School Monday morning, the school's Student Council members said the school is once again up for the challenge. Whitefish Bay Middle School students have achieved the highest donation totals all nine years!
"You think 'I have a lot of food and snacks and stuff that I can eat,' but then you think 'there's so many people that don't even have just one sandwich to eat for the entire day,'" Vlada Kot, a student at Whitefish Bay Middle School said.
Bonnie Bellehumeur is president of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. She says so far, 50 elementary, middle and high schools are participating in this year's program -- and there is room for more!
"In 10 years, we've collected enough peanut butter and jelly to make four million sandwiches! It's nutritious, it tastes good and most kids love peanut butter and jelly," Bellehumeur said.
Whitefish Bay Middle School's students hope to collect over 5,500 pounds of peanut butter and jelly this year -- enough for 58,000 sandwiches!
"It is sad. There are 16.2 million children in the U.S. that are starving every night. Donating a jar of peanut butter doesn't mean a lot for me, but for the people who are receiving it, it makes a huge difference," Whitefish Bay Middle School student Eunah Cha said.
All students making a donation to the program will receive a voucher for a free ticket offer to a Milwaukee Bucks basketball game! The voucher is good for one free ticket to the official PB&J Challenge Recognition Night at the Milwaukee Bucks game on Saturday, November 17 vs. the New Orleans Hornets.
If students are unable to attend the recognition night game, they may use the voucher for an alternate game on Wednesday, November 14.
This year's PB&J Challenge runs through October 26th.
The ninth annual PB&J Challenge involved 75 Milwaukee-area schools, collecting 11 tons, or 21,000 pounds of peanut butter and jelly during the month of October, to help feed hungry children.
To register your school for the PB&J Challenge, CLICK HERE.
The public can donate peanut butter and jelly at their local Pick 'n Save store, via the PB&J Challenge food donation barrels.