COMMERCE CITY – City Council and city staff have teamed with a Commerce City Boy Scout to “Spread the Love” this winter and collect peanut butter and jelly for families in need.The “Spread the Love” food drive kicks off Monday, Jan. 10. It targets specific food, peanut butter and jelly, which give children a nutritious meal that’s easy to make. All items collected will be delivered to the Adams County Food Distribution Center for Commerce City residents in need.
Recreation Supervisor Maripat Gallas works with seniors and staff members at the Recreation Center to organize the food drive each year.
Together with Boy Scout Bradly Wolfersberger, a freshman at Prairie View High School, the campaign aims to bring in 1,300 jars by Feb. 14. Wolfersberger has taken on the food drive as part of his Eagle Scout project. He will lead other members of Troop 661 in taking the campaign directly to area schools, businesses and supermarkets.
The drive ends on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, so that peanut butter and jelly can be delivered to the food bank in time for spring break distribution.
The food bank typically distributes about 100 jars of peanut butter and jelly each week during spring and summer school breaks. Families who need help feeding their children often find that help through school programs that offer free and reduced-cost meals. When school is out of session, these families need to find that help elsewhere.
Wolfersberger counted one week for spring break, plus 12 weeks for summer break, then multiplied that times 100 (the amount the food bank distributes weekly) to arrive at a total of 1,300 jars.
Community members, groups, schools and businesses have joined the drive to help “Spread the Love” as well. Individuals and organizations are welcome to participate by sponsoring a food collection box and/or through donations of peanut butter and jelly or money for the purchase of those food items.
Donations may be brought to the Commerce City Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., by Feb. 14. Other collection sites include the Civic Center, 7887 E. 60th Ave., Belle Creek Family Center, 10693 Belle Creek Blvd. and the Reunion Recreation Center 17910 E Parkside Drive North.
All jars of peanut butter and jelly must be store-bought and unopened; home-made jellies and jams will not be accepted. For more information on the “Spread the Love” campaign and how you can help, contact Gallas at 303-289-3761.
