PBJ food drive asks residents to help ‘spread the love’

COMMERCE CITY – For many children, spring break is a time for sleeping in, playing with friends and enjoying time off from school. For others, it can be a time of need.

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 may need to find that help elsewhere.

Now in its fourth year, Commerce City Parks and Recreation is sponsoring the “Spread the Love” campaign, a peanut-butter-and-jelly drive to benefit the Adams County Food Center . The drive runs Feb. 1 through Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, when it must be turned over to the food bank in time for spring break distribution.

Recreation Supervisor Maripat Gallas works with seniors and staff members at the Recreation Center to organize the drive each year.

“Peanut butter is a good protein that helps provide a solid meal for children,” Gallas said. “It is also easy to prepare and doesn’t have to be cooked – so kids can make it themselves.”

Peanut butter and jelly are items requested by the food bank, Gallas said, especially during spring and summer school breaks.

“They distribute about 100 jars of peanut butter and jelly each week during these times,” she said, “and there are 12 weeks during the summer break.”

Community members are asked to help “Spread the Love” by bringing a donation of peanut butter or jelly to the Commerce City Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., by Feb. 14. Other collection sites include the Belle Creek Fitness Center and the Reunion Recreation Center . Area businesses who want to sponsor a collection box are also welcome to participate.

The items must be store-bought and unopened; home-made jellies and jams cannot be accepted.

“This drive gives people a simple, affordable way to help others in the community,” Gallas said. “For as little as $1 (the cost of a small jar of jelly), they can be a part of something great.”

For more information on the “Spread the Love” campaign and how you can help, contact Gallas at 303-289-3761.