The North Texas Food Bank has launched its “Annual Spread the Hope Peanut Butter Drive” as part of Hunger Action Month. The food drive runs throughout September to collect 500,000 pounds of peanut butter. Supporters can also make a monetary donation.
The food drive brings together cities, neighborhoods, corporations and organizations to collect jars of peanut butter that can then be distributed through the North Texas Food Bank’s Food 4 Kids backpack program and its network of more than 400 partner agencies and organizations.
Peanut butter is a healthy, kid-friendly and shelf-stable item that makes it an important component of charitable food assistance.
“Inflation is hitting families hard, and we have seen a record level increase in the need for nutritious food in the North Texas area over the past several months,” said Trisha Cunningham, president and CEO. “This annual peanut butter drive could not have come at a better time with the impact of rising prices and children starting back to school, and it will help us tremendously in providing for those who need us most right now.”
The North Texas Food Bank has expanded the drive this year to include all 13 counties that it serves.
Each dollar donated to the peanut butter campaign platform is used by NTFB to purchase peanut butter for a family facing hunger. Physical 16-ounce plastic jars of any brand of peanut or any other nut butter can be delivered to the North Texas Food Bank’s Perot Family Campus in Plano at 3677 Mapleshade Lane. Attendees at the State Fair of Texas this year also have an opportunity to participate by bringing two jars of peanut butter on opening day for discounted admission.
The peanut butter collected in this campaign is a contribution toward NTFB’s food goal of its Nourish North Texas campaign, which includes raising $300 million in donated food products by June. Due to the increased need along with supply chain issues, the NTFB had to purchase more food over the last two years compared to pre-pandemic levels, and offsetting this cost is critical.
“The North Texas Food Bank service area has the fourth highest number of food insecure children in the country, and this food drive is about making sure that no children in our 10,000 square mile service area go hungry,” Cunningham said.
“Our community can provide hope for our neighbors experiencing hunger through a simple donation of peanut butter. We are grateful to all the mayors and committee members who support this campaign and help advance our mission of providing food for today and hope for tomorrow.”
For more information on how to participate in the Annual Spread the Hope Peanut Butter Drive, visit ntfb.org/peanutbutterdrive.
