Kids collect 21,000 pounds of peanut butter and jelly during PB&J Challenge

The Ninth Annual Peanut Butter and Jelly 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. They met their goal, and Thursday was packing day!

Whitefish Bay Middle School collected the most peanut butter and jelly, and St. Patrick Parish School in Elkhorn collected the most pounds per student. These two winning schools were on hand Thursday, packing up the boxes. Feeding America will then distribute the peanut butter and jelly to food pantries, shelters, and meal programs in the Milwaukee area.

"They're working together as a team, and that's what this effort is all about. It's coming together as a team to feed the people who are in need, particularly children, and there are 105,000 that we are feeding in eastern Wisconsin," Gina Styer-Feddering with Feeding America, eastern Wisconsin said.

Peanut butter and jelly is a favorite for most kids, and many of the kids said collecting it was fun, easy, and meaningful!

"Hunger is a problem that affects our entire community. I mean, if we don't do anything about it, who else is?" Mary Henichs, and eighth-grader at Whitefish Bay Middle School said.

Organizers hope this experience will teach kids about community service and giving back, so they'll continue to give back throughout their lives.