Rotary Club of Brunswick makes hundreds of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as part of St. Ambrose initiative

BRUNSWICK — Rotary Club of Brunswick members worked together to make hundreds of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to support St. Ambrose's PB&J Brigade on Thursday. Each week, St. Ambrose distributes more than 3,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to those in need in the area. Rotary member Carl DeForest said the goal was to make 400 sandwiches for the initiative. The Rev. Bob Stec said the church's PB&J Brigade started in spring 2020 since many shelters and kitchens were closed because of the pandemic, but people were still in need. "In the early days, we opened up our Hilkert Hall, spaced out the tables and packed lunches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and snacks, to be delivered to those in the neighboring communities who would benefit from the packed lunches," he said. Anyone can join the cause, and a "wonderful community" has been built around the initiative, Stec said. "The brigade has flourished because of how easy it is," he said. "From small children decorating the lunch bags to those who are elderly and looking for something meaningful to do during the day. The brigade offers a variety of opportunities to those who want to help serve." Those who are interested in becoming involved with the initiative can make sandwiches, decorate bags or donate sandwiches, snacks or plastic sandwich bags. The church also packs lunches from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays in Hilkert Hall, room 4 at 929 Pearl Road in Brunswick. For more information on the PB&J Brigade and making donations, visit tinyurl.com/yjs2ddvy. "Throughout the years, we have received numerous 'thank you's' from the organizations that we serve, expressing how much the simple bags of sandwiches and snacks have been crucial for those that they serve face to face," Stec said. "The bags are more than just filling a tangible need. They are truly a bag of hope, letting those on the receiving end know that they are thought of, they matter and there is a whole bridge praying and trying to build a better tomorrow for them." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.