Galloway Middle School Softball Team Holds Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive

The Galloway Township Middle School softball team is hosting its first Peanut Butter and Jelly food drive.

Beginning Monday, May 20, and running through May 31, the Lady Grizzlies are asking the school's students and members of the community to bring in whole jars of peanut butter and jelly to donate to a local food bank.

"I have always been a big believer in student-athletes being leaders on and off the field and with such a special group of girls this season, we didn't hesitate at the chance to help out the community," co-coach John O'Kane said via email on Monday.

It's been two years since a group of parents successfully petitioned the Galloway Township School District to bring back the baseball and softball teams. This is the first year O'Kane and Heather Martin are coaching the team.

"I heard from a teacher in the building that we used to run a PB&J drive (not associated with softball) and I just kind of ran with it," O'Kane said. "Our principal Sharon Kurtz not only approved the idea almost immediately but then ran with the idea along with secretary Janet Thomas and others and helped out with all the behind-the-scenes stuff."

The team, which was 8-1 going into Monday's game, also embraced the idea.

"I mentioned it to the team on a bus ride to an away game and they were instantly throwing out all kinds of great ideas," O'Kane said. "Everything kind of rolled along from there."