Holiday season charity drives usually collect toys, gifts and Christmas cheer.

James Manns, a student at Seneca Valley School District, is gathering something a little different.

Since the winter of 2020, Manns has partnered with Grace Community Church's GRACE Project ministry to collect 16-ounce jars of peanut butter for the ministry's weekend hunger program.

The program distributes weekend packs of food to approximately 450 children in Seneca Valley School District each week who qualify for free or reduced school meals. Over winter break, the program puts together holiday packages of food that are meant to last the week.

James, 17, and his brother, Sean, 15, got involved with the program last year and collected more than 600 jars of peanut butter.

“Essentially, what it is is collecting peanut butter for students at Seneca Valley who could go hungry over the long winter breaks,” Manns said. “These drives, the GRACE Project needs people to do them, and if no one is willing to pick them up, it doesn't get done.”

Cindy Zonts, director of the GRACE Project and local outreach director at Grace Community Church, said the church's weekend food program began in 2015.

“We started at Haine Elementary, and by the beginning of the next school year we were in all the schools (in Seneca Valley),” Zonts said. “We serve kindergarten through 12th grade. Most feeding programs stop at fourth grade, but we do all grades because just because you're older doesn't mean you're not hungry.”

Zonts said people are sometimes surprised or unaware that food insecurity is a problem in Seneca Valley. “We need to help people no matter where they live,” she said.

The peanut butter drive will continue until Wednesday, James said. Those interested can drop off jars of peanut butter at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center.