For two weeks in April, community members rallied around a local high school student’s food drive for the United Way Backpack Program to fight child hunger in Bismarck-Mandan. Lauryn Hinckley, a student at Century High School, coordinated her sixth Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive to help feed local children. Her efforts and the support of her family, friends, and community have produced impressive results – more than 7,900 pounds of peanut butter and jelly were collected for the needy in our community, along with $3,700 to purchase additional items for the program.
On Friday, April 15 at 5 p.m., supporters gathered at Leingang Home Center to sort donations and celebrate a successful drive. Donations were collected from the public drop-off sites at Starion Financial and Kupper auto dealerships. Several businesses, such as Aetna, Bobcat, and Fireside Office Solutions held employee drives as well. Students in Bismarck and Mandan Public Schools also collected peanut butter and jelly for the drive, and volunteered to sort and pack the many jars of donations. Target, Walmart, and the Sodexo Foundation have also contributed to the event.
The event not only marked the conclusion of a successful drive, but was part of Global Youth Service Day. This annual event is coordinated nationally by Youth Service America and is celebrated with youth volunteer projects in over 100 countries on 3 continents.
Donations from the drive will be used in the United Way Backpack Program, which is working to end childhood hunger by filling the gaps and sending healthy meals home with students on weekends and breaks. In 2015, the program – supported by volunteers, individuals and local businesses – provided 53,586 meals to students who do not have enough to eat.
