LOCKPORT, NY- This week's "Good Neighbors" are the volunteers with the Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive, aimed at filling pantry shelves with food kids like to eat.
Scan the shelves in local food pantries and you'll find they're stocked with nutricious but not always delicious items.
Peter Robinson is trying to change that. For the 5th year in a row, his team of volunteers is collecting nothing but PB&J to give out to local food banks.
In the first year he collected a few hundred jars at the Niagara County courthouse where he works as a court sergeant. It grew to 13,000 jars last year.
"We're doing such dynamic work that people are catching on," said Robinson.
There are nearly 200 drop off locations at offices, schools and businesses across Western New York.
Volunteers pick up the bins, sort the jars and deliver them to various pantries, including Lockport's Salvation Army which alone serves 200 families in need each month.
"It'll help a lot of children and a lot of people," said Robert Drinkwater, Salvation Army Director of Social Ministries. "And you don't really realize when you see people who get it how appreciative they are that it's there."
It's the hungry children in WNY that motivate the Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive's volunteers.
"We're just a really great group of friends that pitch in, roll up our sleeves and spread the word that there's people in need, especially children," said volunteer Tina Sheley.
Robinson thanks the Niagara Co. Sheriff's Office, Clerks office, NYS Courts, County Legislature, judges, Police Association of Niagara County, Leadership Niagara, and SERV Niagara for their help with the drive.
Because many children have peanut allergies, the food banks say they are also in need of almond and cashew butters.
The drive runs through December 6.
You can find a list of drop off locations on the Peanut Butter and Jelly Facebook Page. For more infomation you can call 510-7108, 735-7061 or 799-4013.
If you know a "Good Neighbor" you'd like to nominate, e-mail Melissa.Holmes@wgrz.com or call 716-849-2216.
