California Junior Scholarship Federation (CJSF) Candy Grams bring a treat to Valentine’s Day, giving students throughout the campus a chance to support charity organizations as well as give some love and candy to a friend or romantic interest.

The February sale benefits kids from all over the Valley, including the Craycroft Center, Ronald McDonald House and students at Pinedale Elementary. The club’s support even extends to children in poverty-stricken countries around the world, such as India and Haiti.

This year’s packages will be sold for $1 and consist of several candies such as red licorice, Hershey’s kisses and Reese’s cups. The outside of the package is laced with red ribbon and accompanied by a paper heart with a message written by the sender.

Hallie Rojeski, head of the Fresno Christian chapter of CJSF, said the purpose of the candy grams is to benefit other students of less fortunate schools and demonstrate care for friends.

“It’s a nice way to say you’ve been a good friend,” Rojeski said. “I enjoy the benefit of our kids in doing the project most. I like the program, I like the focus: scholarship for service and I see the value in it. Some of the kids have even gone back and volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and Craycroft Center after our experiences there.”

CJSF president Sasha Papgni, ’13, enjoys her second round of Candy Grams with a bigger role than in her seventh grade year.

“I love packaging the Candy Grams,” Papagni said. “It’s a fun way to support the kids in need. This is actually our busiest time of year but it is the most fun! I really joined [CJSF] because my friends were in it, but I also saw it as a huge learning opportunity.”

Those joining CJSF for the first time are rushed into Candy Gram production with a marathon assembly session after school. Seventh grader Tyler Laird accepted the challenge as soon as he joined.

“It’s thrown on us pretty quickly,” Laird said. “We have to make so many Candy Grams so quickly at the start of the second semester. It seemed like were were able to do a lot of stuff.”

The campus chapter of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF), the high-school counterpart of CJSF, will offer smoothies with notes through the Jamba Juice program. Students can purchase the Jamba Grams at lunch, Feb. 12, for delivery Feb. 13.

For more information about CJSF, read the May 15, 2008 article, CJSF students receive Marian Huhn award or e-mail Hallie Rojeski.