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North Texas Food Bank celebrates local support with a festive event after surpassing goals in its annual Peanut Butter Drive

Dallas, Texas – To help with food poverty across North Texas, the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) recently celebrated the successful end of its 11th annual Peanut Butter Drive, raising about $300,000 and gathering over 84,000 pounds of peanut butter. Held throughout September, this month-long project brings together local businesses, companies, schools, and communities to assist the NTFB in its goal of feeding people in need.

NTFB President and CEO Trisha Cunningham praised the community for its relentless support at a festive celebration hosted at the Perot Family Campus on October 22.

“The Peanut Butter Drive is about more than just collecting food; it’s about ensuring that no child in our community goes hungry. We are incredibly grateful for the partnership and support from our community,” said Cunningham. “As we continue to distribute record amounts of food, the contributions from the Peanut Butter Drive are vital in providing nutritious options to the nearly 287,000 children facing hunger in North Texas.”

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) recently celebrated the successful end of its 11th annual Peanut Butter Drive setting new record
Courtesy of North Texas Food Bank

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Peanut butter, a protein-rich staple with a long shelf life, is ideal for the Food Bank’s mission. It enables many families, who might find it difficult to get enough food, meet their needs. The Food 4 Kids backpack program, NTFB’s extensive network of 500 partner pantries, and neighborhood organizations will receive the contributions gathered during the drive. Targeting chronically needy students in particular, the Food 4 Kids program sends bags of nonperishable food home each Friday to last throughout the weekend.

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From a range of organizations spread over the 13 counties NTFB serves, the Peanut Butter Drive this year received an unprecedented response. Local governments, businesses, neighborhoods, schools, faith-based organizations, and community groups all banded together behind the cause, competing amiably to maximize their contributions.

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) recently celebrated the successful end of its 11th annual Peanut Butter Drive setting new record
Courtesy of North Texas Food Bank

In recognition of their outstanding efforts, NTFB honored several key contributors at the Reveal Ceremony:

  • Top City: Plano, which also hosted the inaugural Peanut Butter Drive 11 years ago, reclaimed the top spot with exceptional community engagement across departments and schools.
  • Top City Per Capita: Fairview, which impressively collected nearly a pound of peanut butter per resident, demonstrating remarkable community-wide involvement.
  • Top Company: NTT DATA, a leading corporate donor, whose support exemplified the role of businesses in driving social impact.
  • Top Educational Organization: Rice Middle School in Plano ISD, where students took an active role in supporting the drive.
  • Top Faith-Based Organization: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which nearly tripled its donation this year, raising $9,230 and 1,191 pounds of peanut butter.
  • Top Neighborhood: Heritage Ranch, a Fairview community that rallied together to collect an impressive 8,408 pounds of peanut butter.
  • Top Community Group: HungerMitao, a cultural affinity group within NTFB, which saw its members go above and beyond. One inspiring story came from young supporter Ariya Daniels, who raised $10,000 for her 12th birthday with the help of her sisters, showcasing the dedication of the next generation.

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The feeling of collective spirit and friendship permeated other projects as well. Staff members at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Plano became creative with their gifts and organized a contest for the most original peanut butter jar displays. Constructed from peanut butter jars, hospital staff created sculptures including a Harry Potter character, a heart, and a hot air balloon, which combined to weigh nearly 4,200 pounds.

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) recently celebrated the successful end of its 11th annual Peanut Butter Drive setting new record
Courtesy of North Texas Food Bank

Cunningham was happy to see the friendly rivalry and community pride the Peanut Butter Drive created. Although everyone who took part is a winner in a campaign benefiting the community, it is encouraging to see the friendly rivalry among organizations.

“We are so grateful for you, and we can’t wait to do this again next year,” she said.

Growing to be a beloved ritual in North Texas, the Peanut Butter Drive emphasizes the strength of group action and community involvement. The Peanut Butter Drive is evidence of the great influence of small deeds of kindness as NTFB gets ready for yet another year of feeding children, families, and individuals in need.

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With Hunger remaining a major concern, especially for North Texas children, this year’s Peanut Butter Drive shows how one jar at a time communities can change things.

Sarah Rodriguez

At Rockwall News, Sarah leads the news desk, overseeing every piece that is published. Leveraging her prior experience, she assists others in articulating their stories clearly.

Sarah Rodriguez
Sarah Rodriguezhttps://rockwall.news
At Rockwall News, Sarah leads the news desk, overseeing every piece that is published. Leveraging her prior experience, she assists others in articulating their stories clearly.
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