Our Story
A Simple Promise.
PB&J Promise began with something almost everyone recognizes: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
It is simple. It is familiar. And today, it’s one less meal to worry about.
Elena Settembrino, founder of PB&J Promise
The Driving Force
Elena Settembrino
Elena Settembrino leads PB&J Promise while attending Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami. What started as a small student effort making 40 sandwiches a week took off when Elena took over during her freshman year.
Seeing the potential for real community impact, she rebranded and scaled the initiative into PB&J Promise; growing production to over 200 fresh sandwiches delivered every week.
Now a junior, Elena continues to lead the organization throughout her high school journey, providing students with a hands-on way to make a tangible difference.
Students Serving Their Community
PB&J Promise gives Carrollton students a hands-on, direct way to serve. Just one mile from campus, neighbors experiencing food insecurity rely on our deliveries every single Wednesday. Working alongside classmates, students transform regular service hours into immediate, lifesaving relief right in their own backyard.
But the goal is bigger than fulfilling service hours.
| Legal Principle | How PB&J Promise Demonstrates It |
|---|---|
| Direct Advocacy | Showing up weekly, listening to neighbors’ immediate needs, and taking direct action rather than remaining passive. |
| Dignity & Rights | Providing low-barrier, 24/7 access without stigma, treating food as a fundamental human right rather than a transaction. |
| Systemic Accountability | Recognizing that a small, 40-sandwich effort wasn’t enough to address a community-wide issue, leading Elena to rebrand and scale operations 5x. |
Thousands of sandwiches. Every Wednesday.
One sandwich may seem small. Thousands of sandwiches every week are something much bigger.
That is the PB&J Promise. Jam Packed with Joy.
