LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) -Â Perry students were "spreading the love" on Thursday. Their junior high student council held a food and donation drive to help take a bite out of childhood hunger in the area.
After learning that one in five children in the Lima area is uncertain where their next meal will come from and that Allen County ranks 25th in Ohio for food insecurity, the students knew they could work together to make a difference. They began collecting cash and food donations in mid-February for "Spread the Love" and accumulated 1,000 items with an approximate value of almost $1,500.
"Perry schools have been amazing with their community support, and we so appreciate it. This food drive that these middle school kids have done gives us enough peanut butter and jelly to make 3,000 sandwiches. It takes our peanut butter and jelly supply almost to the end of 2025. Of course, we will always take more donations anytime we can get them because we want to increase our services, and it gives us the ability to feed at least 60 to 100 hungry children after school every week," said Laurie Camper, program director with Spread the Love.
"We've been wanting to give back to our community. We heard about Spread the Love, and we wanted to do our best to help them out. So we thought a donation drive to help them make sandwiches for the kids in our communities," said Patti Brown, Perry Junior High School student council co-advisor.
The students plan to remain involved with Spread the Love by being regular sandwich-making volunteers. If you would like to learn more or volunteer, you can visit Spread the Love's Facebook page for more information.
