WashTrust collects five tons of peanut butter for food banks

WASHINGTON TRUST'S 14th annual peanut butter drive collected more than five tons of peanut butter from 15 businesses and 16 schools across the state for local food pantries. Above, students at Saint Paul School in Cranston pose with their collections. / COURTESY SAINT PAUL SCHOOL
WASHINGTON TRUST'S 14th annual peanut butter drive collected more than five tons of peanut butter from 15 businesses and 16 schools across the state for local food pantries. Above, students at Saint Paul School in Cranston pose with their collections. / COURTESY SAINT PAUL SCHOOL

PROVIDENCE – The Washington Trust Co. collected approximately 10,000 pounds, or more than five tons, of peanut butter during its 14th annual Washington Trust Peanut Butter Drive to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and other food pantries across the state.
This year’s biggest contributor was the CVS Caremark Corp. customer relations team, which donated one ton of peanut butter, nearly one-fifth of the total amount collected. Roger Williams Park Zoo, Marasco & Nesselbush LLP and the Old Island Pub were among the 15 businesses that contributed.
Sixteen schools across the state also participated, as well as Kyle Hart, a middle school student from Wakefield who collected independently.
Washington Trust donated the peanut butter to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank as well as local food pantries including Comprehensive Community Action, Helping Hands of Block Island, Holy Family Parish’s food pantry, Jonnycake Center of Peacedale, Jonnycake Center of Westerly, North Kingstown Food Pantry, Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, Peacedale Jonnycake Center, WARM Shelter, Welcome House of South County and West Bay Community Action.
Approximately one-third of people served by food pantries in the state are children under the age of 18, according to R.I. Community Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff. Peanut butter is an essential pantry item, he said, because it is a high-protein food that requires no preparation, and it is also something that most children enjoy.
One jar of peanut butter will make 16 sandwiches for a family.
Washington Trust has held the annual peanut butter drive since 2001, collecting more than 100 tons of peanut butter for more than 12 food pantries statewide.

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