By Amy Fredette
Arizona Daily Wildcat
With the assistance of passersby and donations from local supermarkets and bakeries, three UA organizations made more than 1,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the homeless yesterday on the Mall.
The Hillel Foundation, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Zeta Beta Tau set up two tables with 80 loaves of bread, 60 pounds of peanut butter, 60 pounds of jelly and plastic gloves and knives to make sandwiches for Casa Maria, a local charity.
The event was part of United Jewish Appeal-Challenge, a community outreach group at the University of Arizona.
Organizers planned to set up a table inside the Student Union from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., but supplies ran out sooner than expected.
"I'm thrilled," said Brian Lockner, outreach coordinator for Hillel. "I think it went incredibly well."
Lockner said that the purpose of the event was to promote awareness of the needy.
"It's a lot easier for somebody to give up two minutes than $2," he said.
Debra Syden, a political science junior said the Hillel Foundation wanted to deliver more sandwiches to Casa Maria, 401 E. 26 St., but only four grocery stores responded to their requests for donations.
"We were hoping to get more help from the supermarkets, but we're happy with what we got," said Neil Loewentritt, a communications junior.
The majority of supplies were donated by Albertson's Food & Drug Stores, Rincon Market, Grossman's Bake Shop and Wisdom Bakery. The rest of the food was purchased by the Hillel Foundation and through donations.
Syden said that other Tucson organizations were contacted to receive the sandwiches, but only Casa Maria accepted.
There will be two more tables set up today on the Mall to make more sandwiches, one in front of the Student Union and one in front of the Kappa Kappa Gamma house, 1435 E. Second St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The money for today's supplies came from the Hillel Foundation and private donations.