Around the world and around local U.S. communities hunger is a serious problem that may be exacerbated by the ongoing financial crisis.
For the ninth year running, Washington Trust has run its PB Xpress campaign collecting the protein to redistribute to food pantries and soup kitchens in Rhode Island.
This year, over 20,000 pounds, or 10 tons, of peanut butter were collected as part of the food drive that will be donated to families served by the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Including 2009′s collection, the grand total of peanut butter donated since 2001 has reached 67 tons.
Elizabeth B. Eckel, senior vice president of marketing and investor relations for Washington Trust thanked the businesses, schools, individuals and radio personalities that helped collect peanut butter throughout March.
"The need is greater than ever in our current economic climate and we’re pleased to do our part to help those in need," she said.
While peanut butter may seem to be a quirky focus for a food drive, there is a method to the food philanthropy madness, according to Rhode Island Community Food Bank executive director Andrew Schiff.
"The peanut butter collected through this year’s Washington Trust PB Xpress will help the Food Bank provide a much-needed source of protein to thousands of Rhode Islanders struggling to feed their families," said Schiff.
"Protein is an important component of a nutritious diet, particularly for growing children, and can often be absent from the diets of low-income families," he added.
Washington Trust, perhaps unknowingly, is a bit of a trendsetter.
According to the Food Channel, food philanthropy – including food drives – are among its top ten food trends for 2009.
Food and drink are essential to every human’s diet, and hunger is still a major world issue, said the Food Channel.
