The University of Alaska’s Anchorage campus is taking an unusual step to help students in need. According to KTUU-TV, the university held a drive earlier this month that allowed students to donate peanut butter and jelly as payment for parking tickets.
All of the food that was donated to cover or reduce the cost of the parking tickets went to the university’s emergency food cache for students who face hunger. The peanut butter and jelly was part of the first week of the food drive, while the second week will focus on collecting canned soup and goods.
Any donations could be made to cover up to two tickets per individual.
From the report:
Two 16 oz. jars will be good for a $10 credit, three jars will cover a $35 citation, and five jars will cover a $60 ticket. Tickets must have been issued within the past 45 days, or be within the 60-day “late status” window.
“Any nut butter-almond, cashew, peanut butter- or any flavor jam, jelly, marmalade, preserves, etc. will be accepted. All donations must be commercially produced (no home canning), unopened and not expired,” a statement from the University of Alaska-Anchorage Parking Services said.
The second week of the collection drive for the university’s emergency food cache will run through Friday, November 15.
This is the kind of drive we can all get behind. Not only is it helping those students who are struggling to have a daily meal, it is helping those students who may be struggling with their finances. It’s a win-win situation.
That is all the information that is available at this time. This article will be updated with new and relevant information should it become available at any time. If there is anything that we missed, please feel free to send an email to editor@teamcoed.com and we will respond as soon as possible.