Peanut Butter Challenge: Your Chance To Battle Local Hunger

October 28, 2017

The UF/IFAS Extension Annual Peanut Butter Challenge is in full swing to help feed the hungry.

In an effort to boost the supply of the most requested food pantry item, peanut butter, UF IFAS Escambia County Extension is teaming up again with the Florida Peanut Producers Association to help “Take a Bite out of Hunger” by participating in a local peanut butter drive.

Residents are asked to help meet the challenge of collecting the versatile food by donating unopened jars of peanut butter at one of five locations now through November 22. All peanut butter collected will be donated to local food pantries in December.

Drop-off locations:

  • Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor
  • Escambia County Extension Office, 3740 Stefani Road
  • Escambia County Farm Bureau,153 Highway 97, Molino
  • Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 North W Street
  • Gilmore Services, 31 East Fairfield Drive

Since 2012, the volunteers and UF/IFAS Extension faculty have collected jars of peanut butter from residents, volunteer groups and businesses in 16 Northwest Florida counties. Last year, UF/IFAS Extension county offices received 3,236 jars of peanut butter, said Libbie Johnson, agricultural agent for UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County and co-organizer of the challenge.

In addition to these donations, the Florida Peanut Producers Association also contributes, supplying more than 3,000 jars each challenge, Johnson said. They hope to surpass that total this year, and citizens of Escambia County are asked to help.

“The Peanut Butter Challenge not only raises awareness about the important contribution of North Florida’s peanut growers to the state peanut industry, but also helps provide a healthy, locally produced product to food-insecure families in northwest Florida,” Johnson said.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News