November 18, 1996

"Peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich day" to be part of this year's annual food drive

Students, faculty, and staff can enjoy a taste from their childhoods and donate to a good cause at the same time on December 2, UCSC's first "peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich day," says Carol Lacey of the Chancellor's Office.

The special day is part of the annual Second Harvest Food Bank food drive, which was launched last week when two UCSC sororities distributed collection barrels on campus. (Photo: UCSC wins an award for its participation in last year's food drive.)

Volunteers from Alpha Kappa Delta Phi and Sigma Omicron Pi Zeta left the barrels at the colleges and in public areas such as the McHenry Library foyer and the Cowell Student Health Center lobby. They will pick them up the week of December 16.

Second Harvest accepts donations in the form of checks as well as nonperishable food. The food bank can buy $13.42 worth of canned goods with each dollar donated, says Lacey.

On "peanut butter and jelly sandwich day," volunteers will disburse milk and peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches to faculty, staff, and students who donate whatever amount of money they would normally spend on lunch. The exchange takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bay Tree Bookstore and at several other campus locations, which will be announced closer to the event.

A community nonprofit organization, Second Harvest distributes the donations it receives to needy people throughout the year--through soup kitchens, shelters, and emergency pantries in Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.

--Francine Tyler