HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — According to the Food Bank of North Alabama, nearly 60,000 children in North Alabama sometimes have to skip meals or do not eat for a whole day because their household does not have enough money to buy food. The Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive was launched to help support those who are facing food insecurity.
Matthew Banks, Crestwood Medical Center's Chief Executive Office, says that not having access to food is crippling to many.
“Food insecurity has a significant impact on a person’s overall health and wellbeing,” said Matthew Banks, Crestwood’s Chief Executive Officer, “Through our Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive, we are working to help fight hunger in our community. Our generous employees really stepped up to be sure we could stock the shelves.”
Peanut butter is one of the most requested items for food banks because it is highly nutritious and has a long shelf life. Unfortunately, many food banks in the United States report it is as one of the least donated food items. Other foods needed by food banks include canned meat or fish (chicken or tuna), canned vegetables, soups, chili, stew, paper products (towels, toilet paper, diapers), dinner kits, breakfast cereal, and canned fruit.
Shirley Schofield, CEO of Food Bank of North Alabama, says that these items are some of the food bank's most requested items as they prepare for summer.
"Generally, we're going to be getting ready to head into the summer months. So, anything that is very appropriate for children that they like, you know, is always very helpful," said Schofield, "so peanut butter, mac and cheese, cereal, those are some of the most requested items that we have from our community that we serve," Schofield explained.
Crestwood Medical Center Human Resource Director Michael Pocchiari said Crestwood found their recent Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive as an opportunity to serve the Huntsville area.
"We initially set out a goal of a thousand jars and we quickly surpassed that probably within the first week," he said, "and ultimately gathered up 2,641 jars of peanut butter to help out our community."
Schofield also said a drive like this is exciting for everyone!
"...getting some great food, some great protein for the people that we serve, but it also shows that the community cares and is helping us," Schofield said, "There's over 2,000 jars of peanut butter. so that's going to be over 2,000 families that'll be able to be served by this."