What’s Right With Our Schools: St. Peter PB&J
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Hunger is a sad fact of life in communities across America. Students at St. Peter’s Episcopal School in Chattanooga are working to solve that problem. See how they are feeding a multitude in this fulfilling example of what’s right with our schools.
“If you are doing the bags, you need to count them as you complete each sandwich.”
“We’re excited to celebrate this whole week with Episcopal School Week. We celebrate our Episcopal identity and what makes us so special as a school community. And part of our mission is to instill in children a joy of service. So the, the week is packed full of service opportunities,” said Meredith Ruffner, Head of School at Saint Peter Episcopal School.
“We’re making peanut butter and jelly.”
“Today we had a hands-on opportunity for our third fourth and fifth graders; where they made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, to give to Chatt Foundation, for them to hand out to people in our area that are hungry today,” said Ruffner.
“Okay guys. You two are doing jelly. You and Em are doing peanut butter.”
“It’s a tight-knit community. And our students feel very blessed that they have all of their needs met. And it’s wonderful for them to think outside of themselves and to do good for the greater community, and to work together. So this was an opportunity where they could work together use their teamwork to assemble these sandwiches and to know that they are helping to give someone some much needed food today,” said Ruffner.
Students spoke about their tasks and what this activity means to them.
“Well we’re all making sandwiches. We’re making 25 each. There’s 12 groups and we’re giving them to the people who can’t afford food. It helps the community and everybody should be treated like the others,” one student said.
“Everybody needs to help people when they need it most. We are making peanut butter and jelly for the people that are poor,” another student stated.
“Why is that important to help people that are less fortunate?” asked News 12’s Chief Photographer, David Moore.
“So everybody can live a happy life,” one student replied.
“Wait guys this is our last piece of bread. We need another jelly.”
“Many of our students do come from homes that they have plenty of of food. They have a warm place to lay their head every night. And so when we talk about people in our community that do not have a home and do not have as much food, and may have to you know get by with one meal a day, they’re, they’re surprised, and shocked. And they really show compassion for those people. And so it’s a, it’s a real learning opportunity. It opens their eyes to how much they have as well as how little some people have. And they want to help to give back to those people so that their lives are a little more fulfilled and comfortable. We feel that during these foundational years, is when they’re really learning what it means to be a good citizen. And to help others and to be empathetic and real have a servant at attitude. And they many of them become servant leaders. And go on from here to to do great things in our community,” said Ruffner.
