Woodland’s Distributive Education Clubs of America, also known as DECA, has hosted an annual event referred to as the Feedback project in February right here at Woodland.
The Feedback event is a community project where the students of the DECA club come together for a few hours to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to donate to St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury, a homeless shelter in Waterbury, Connecticut. The club spends about a month collecting jars of non-perishable jars of peanut butter and jelly from the students of Woodland Regional High School, while the 40 loaves of bread are provided by the club advisors just a few days prior to the event to prevent any molding. The club advisors also provide gloves, plates, knives, and spoons to help the process work smoother. The club members work diligently for the entirety of this event to produce about 400 sandwiches in total. There is also a slight variety to the sandwiches, using multiple kinds of jelly and peanut butter.
“It (the Feedback event) is a really great event, we continue to improve it every year to give back to the community that we come from,” said Emma Swanson, DECA club president.
The event has been occurring annually ever since Swansons’ freshman year, and it has been improving and becoming more successful every year, she says.
The event is very inclusive and open to as much help as possible, not limited to the members of the club.
“We take anyone who is willing to give their time to make a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” said Swanson.
It is also encouraged to spread the word of this project in order to get as much help as possible. The turnout has been successful recently, with a large turnout of about 40 students. However, if there is a student who wants to help and does not have time to participate in the sandwich making, donations of peanut butter and jelly are much needed and highly appreciated as well.
St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury provides a safe refuge for any individuals who are struggling with homelessness. This includes providing shelter, clothing, hygiene, and most of all, meals. They are an independent and non-profit organization, and donations are vital to keep the program alive. Providing sandwiches, while small items, make very large impacts on these people in need.
“It helps anyone who is homeless or struggling to get a quick and easy meal if they’re staying the night,” said Swanson.
This is by far one of the most successful events DECA hosts, among their popular “Helping Hands” and holiday raffles, and the students love to give back and participate.
