With the sun shining and faces glowing, members of the Penn community made an attempt to light up the lives of the less fortunate yesterday afternoon.
"Leading the Way with PB & J," an event sponsored by the Jewish Heritage Project, drew hundreds of students to College Green in a group effort to make nearly 2,000 sandwiches that will be distributed to the city's homeless population in conjunction with the Sunday Breakfast Association, a local soup kitchen.
The activity was one of a series planned as part of Mitzvah Week, an annual community outreach program organized by the JHP to promote awareness and encourage mitzvahs -- or "good deeds" -- on campus, said JHP Community Service Lead Intern Jessica Garrett.
Those good deeds were evident in the empty peanut butter jars flung in trash cans, students' sticky fingers and the collection of sandwiches that covered College Green, which was decorated for the occasion with an archway of red and white balloons.
But the sandwich-makers weren't the only ones playing an active role in the event.
Student performing arts organizations, such as a cappella groups Off the Beat and Dischord, performed throughout the afternoon, attracting faculty and University City community members to join in and help, according to Garrett.
But the job was far from being all work and no play.
Whether it was the warm weather, the satisfaction of doing something good for someone else or the noise of the performers jamming for the enjoyment of sandwich-makers and Locust Walk strollers, everyone seemed to be diligent in their efforts as they quickly spread peanut butter and smeared jelly.
"It's a gorgeous day," College freshman Mike Heller said as he worked. "I just wanted to be a part of the scene, helping people. That's really what I'm all about."
But according to Wharton freshman Steve Davidson, good intentions just did not cut it.
"You gotta do a better job spreading," he said to Heller as he observed the volunteers.
"I'm trying. It's chunky," Heller responded.
But the exchange was all in good fun, both said.
"It's a great opportunity to hang out on the Green and at the same time, give back and make a difference," Davidson said.
All sandwich-makers received a coupon to Scoop DeVille, a Rittenhouse Square mom-and-pop ice cream shop, and were entered in a raffle for prizes such as classes at Power Yoga Works and gift certificates to Philadelphia's Vog Salon and local retail stores such as Eastern Mountain Sports.
Mitzvah Week kicked off last Sunday when JHP members began a project of replacing cabinets and putting in new ceiling tiles in the kitchen of Penn's Lubavitch House, a Jewish community center on 40th and Spruce streets.
Other highlights of the week included "Mitzvah Call Day," which took place on Tuesday.
JHP distributed 20-minute international calling cards on Locust Walk so students could "call... an old friend, a relative, someone in Israel... to say something nice," Garrett explained.
Although JHP is sponsoring the events, it's "not just for Jewish students," Garrett said.
"It's a secular event. It has nothing to do with religion. It's just charity."
The week will conclude tomorrow with a party at Billybob, a local bar and restaurant. Attendees will receive reduced admission for donating items -- such as disposable cameras, Chapsticks and stationery -- which can be sent to soldiers in Iraq.
