CHURCH MARKS SIXTH YEAR IN SUPPORT OF PEANUT BUTTER DRIVE WITH LARGE DONATION

Featured Photo: (left to right) Erica Yeager, NTFB Chief External Affairs Officer, Bruce Blacker, Allen Texas Stake Presidency Counselor, Jenn Meldrum, Allen Texas Stake Communications Director, Melissa McKneely, Dallas /Dallas East Area Communications Director, John Muns, Plano Mayor, Ron Johnson, Plano Texas Stake Communications Director, BJ Lamarche, Richardson Texas Stake Presidency Counselor, Debra Eckel, Richardson Texas Stake Communications Director, and Johnny Jenkins, NTFB Foundation Giving Specialist-Peanut Butter Committee Leader. Photo by Dee Hiatt.

PLANO—For the 6^th annual peanut butter drive with The North Texas Food Bank, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated 34, 560 jars of peanut butter with Plano Mayor John Muns in attendance.

North Texas Food Bank hopes “this donation of a full trailer of peanut butter will create a domino effect by motivating others in the community to bring jars of peanut butter to NTFB.  This donation is equal to 28,800 nutritious meals for families in our area,” Johnny Jenkins, NTFB Foundation Giving Specialist and Peanut Butter Committee Leader.

This year marks the sixth year the Church has collected donations to support the annual drive that was originally started by Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere in 2014 to support the Food 4 Kids Program. He selected peanut butter because it is kid-friendly, stays fresh, and has a high protein content. The North Texas Food Bank uses this support to provide food to fill backpacks with nutritional essentials to send home each weekend to feed food insecure elementary children.

Newly elected Plano Mayor Muns continues the tradition that now has been expanded to include all of Collin County.

“We are beyond thrilled to accept the peanut butter from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today.  This generous donation will provide nearly 28,800 meals to families in our community.  By the end of this month, I am confident that Plano will have rallied in support of the annual Collin County peanut butter drive, and we will exceed this year’s goal of collecting 300,000 pounds,” said Mayor Muns.

The church’s large donation comes as the food bank launches its most aggressive food-and-funds campaign to combat food insecurity from the pandemic amid long lines of cars waiting for food in our area.

This donation timing also hits when the North Texas Food Bank had to cancel its fundraising gala to celebrate its 40^th anniversary, due to rising COVID numbers in our area.

This peanut butter donation is a continuation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s global effort to care for the hungry. We are pleased to support the North Texas Food Bank as they work to meet the need for food assistance in communities throughout the 13 North Texas counties.

Trisha Cunningham NTFB President & CEO stated, “Since the Peanut Butter Drive began in 2014, the community has come together each year to raise awareness of food insecurity and collect peanut butter for hungry children and families in North Texas. With this year’s goal of 300,000 pounds of peanut butter, we are witnessing churches, organizations, neighborhoods, and schools step up to support our neighbors in need. This donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will push us that much closer to reaching our goal.”  

Truckload donations such as this are coordinated at church facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Church maintains a variety of resources located through the US that produce, process, and package food from our farms along with purchases made from commercial food providers. The Peanut Butter included in this donation was produced at our Houston facility. These items are assembled and stored in our warehouse facilities where shipments are loaded and dispatched directly to the receiving organization, in this case, delivered from Salt Lake City to Plano.

President Jerry Martin, who helps lead the Plano Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commented on the value of food banks in the community. “The North Texas Food Bank is a vital resource in addressing food insecurity in our local communities.  As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we sincerely strive to follow the Savior Jesus Christ’s admonition to “love our neighbors as ourselves.” Addressing food security not only addresses hunger but addresses physical, cognitive, health, and emotional development in our community.  Peanut Butter is a nutrient-dense food that provides powerful plant-based protein and other important vitamins, minerals, and fiber.  We are grateful to provide this contribution through the food bank to the community we live in and love so much.”