Texas A&M University senior civil engineering student Kaci Hicks has a lot on her plate. With graduation approaching in May, Hicks is preparing to move to Houston to begin work at Jones and Carter.
In the meantime, she’s devoting much of her time and energy to an organization that has grown close to her heart.
PB&J is a student organization that sells peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to raise money for a worthy cause — feeding children in Kenya. Hicks is director of the group this year.
“We help feed kids in Kenya,” Hicks said, adding that a $2 donation will feed one child for a month. “It’s a minimum donation of $1 for a sandwich.”
In its eighth year, PB&J provides funding for the organization Kenya Kids Can. The group provides a school lunch program that feeds more than 16,000 children every day, as well as computer classes.
PB&J raises roughly $100 a week, Hicks said. It’s raised more than $1,200 this year.
“We’re just a simple organization that tries to reach out globally,” she said.
On the local level, PB&J hosts a free garage sale in Bryan, Texas, called Jubilee. The next garage sale is set to take place from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday (April 23) in Sue Haswell Park. Hicks and her fellow PB&J members have been collecting donations for the free sale.
“Last year we had 150 families come,” she said. “It’s a way to give back to lower income families in the area.”
Hicks said PB&J is a faith-based organization that is open to any student interested in joining. There are currently about 40 members, she said, and the group is very actively involved.
“This year we’ve been able to grow with really passionate people,” she said.
For more information about PB&J visit the PB&J website. For more information about Kenya Kids Can visit the Kenya Kids Can website.