SAN ANTONIO -- UTSA is helping students solve a pesky problem - parking tickets. The program ends up helping families in need across San Antonio.
- Need is great as the holidays approach
- Participants can pay for parking tickets with food donations
- Last year, 920 pounds of peanut butter was collected
"Am I going to get my medicine or am I going to get food? Am I going to take my pet to the vet, or can I spend it on the grocer?" said the San Antonio Food Bank's Chief Development Officer Michael Guerra.
Guerra said for many people in town, these questions never go away. For charitable organizations, some times of year are tougher than others.
"Summer is our biggest time of need, going really big for kids for out of school. Our kids at the San Antonio Food Bank will do upwards of 10,000 a day. And we saw a lot of seniors with high utility bills this Summer," Guerra said.
Guerra said that double dose of need cleared out the warehouse. That's a good thing, and they have a lot of generous donors to help fill the shelves, but Guerra said the closer we get to the holidays the tricker it can be.
"It's kind of that bridge between where the summer people often do find us and help us and November December when we'll get a swell as well," Guerra said.
Right now, they need non-perishables and protein, and there's a lot ways you can help.
It's not uncommon for schools and organizations to get creative when it comes to donating. At UTSA, it's no different. A wall of peanut butter is ready to go. Crunchy, creamy, maybe some extra Omega 3 - the campus community is ready to help those in need.
"It's really something we're starting to get known for," said Caitlin Jaworowki with UTSA
UTSA's Peanut Butter Parking Campaign is running strong again in its fourth year. Starting at the beginning of the semester, students can pay their parking citations with a donation of peanut butter.
"Those would be parking without a proper permit and parking without a valid permit and they're valued at $50 and $100," Jaworowki said.
Tickets can be swapped out for a 40- or 80-ounce jar.
" I think the students appreciate being able to help out the local community, and then the campus community does benefit as well by saving them money on citations. Fifty dollars and $100 is a lot compared to maybe $5 a jar or $10 a jar," Jaworowski said.
Last year they collected more than 920 pounds of peanut butter and saved the campus community nearly $10,000 in fees. They hope to break their record come delivery by the end of the week.