Young volunteer with Down syndrome collecting peanut butter for food-insecure children in Waterloo Region

A man is hoping to fight childhood hunger one jar of peanut butter at a time. CTV’s Spencer Turcotte finds out what has driven Kaleb to lend a hand.

A Waterloo Region volunteer is spreading hope — one jar of peanut butter at a time.

Kaleb Nieva, a 20-year-old with Down syndrome, is leading a community effort to help ensure local children don’t go hungry by collecting peanut butter donations for Food4Kids Waterloo Region.

Nieva is a regular volunteer with the organization, often helping bag food for children facing food insecurity.

“I help others, friends and families,” Nieva said while volunteering.

His father, Karl Nieva, said helping others has always come naturally to his son.

“Kaleb has always been very helpful and very caring, so it’s not out of character for him,” Karl said.

Food4Kids Waterloo Region supports nearly 1,500 food-insecure children across the region, providing food packages for students who may otherwise go without.

When the organization launched its fifth annual peanut butter campaign, running from April through June, staff said they’d be nuts not to ask Kaleb to be involved.

“Kaleb already volunteers here every week, so he already has our mission in his mind,” said Carrie Gusé with Food4Kids Waterloo Region.

The timing also aligned with Nieva’s 20th birthday, which falls during the campaign. His birthday wish is to help beat last year’s total.

“Last year, 4,160 jars came in,” Gusé said.

To help reach that goal, Kaleb’s dad Karl contacted several local businesses to serve as drop-off locations, including Brady’s Meats, Maison KooKoo Patisserie, Sweet Dreams Tea Shop and Moose Winooski’s.

Donations quickly began to pile up, filling the Nieva family’s living room with jars. Pictures show Kaleb looking like a peanut butter prince overlooking his jam-packed collection.

Nieva initially set a modest goal of 200 jars.

But his effort has already surpassed that target.

“More than 300,” Nieva said, smiling.

“That’s a lot of peanut butter,” Gusé said with a laugh.

The strong early response is helping Food4Kids Waterloo Region work toward its overall campaign goal of 5,000 jars.

Nieva said donations are still welcome at the designated drop-off locations.

“We’ll allow it — 100 per cent. Sure,” he said.

Organizers said the effort is a simple idea that is already making a meaningful impact by helping fill shelves and stomachs across Waterloo Region.