A Friendly Competition | Video

Kristin Clouston | 2/12/2013

Hunger and homelessness are a part of the school experience for hundreds of children in Bismarck, even though their classmates might not even notice. But plenty of students want to help, they`re participating in the Students in Transition program.

During the last school year, 404 Bismarck students lived in shelters or were homeless, and many went without food while school was out.

"It`s so crazy to think how many students go without food and don`t have the means to have food over the weekend and it`s just heart wrenching to think how many students there are you could be sitting next to those students in class," said BHS senior Courtney Sibla.

Right now, students at Bismarck, Century and South Central high schools are collecting jars of peanut butter and money for the Students in Transition program. It provides help to homeless students in a number of ways and sends backpacks filled with peanut butter and other foods home with them for the weekend.

So far, Bismarck High has collected 120 jars of peanut butter and $1,800. The wrestling team raised a third of the money.

"We can choose to go hungry and kind of get crabby and stuff, but they don`t really choose if the can or want to," said BHS senior Tate Hoffman.

The three schools hope to raise $8,000 and collect a lot of peanut butter. The program they`re helping used to send food home every weekend but has had to cut back to every other weekend in order to keep the program going.

These students were without backpacks for the weekend and the teachers had to say no because they were out.

Those wanting to help can drop off cash donations or peanut butter at Century, South Central or Bismarck High any time this week.

On Valentine`s Day, which is Thursday, any funds donated to the Bismarck Public Schools foundation will be matched, up to $4,000, to help support the Students in Transition program. For more information, visit www.impactgiveback.org.

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