Join the Peanut Butter Challenge: Spread the Love!
Get ready to go nuts for a great cause! The Peanut Butter Challenge is back, and it’s more exciting than ever! Hosted by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University (FAMU) Cooperative Extension, this annual jar collection is all about giving back to our community, just in time for the holidays. This year, donations are due by October 31st!
This friendly competition among counties was conceived as a way to feed hungry families ahead of the holidays in addition to promoting a Florida-grown crop. However, the real winners of this challenge are those in need in your county! To see where you can bring donations, check out the Donation Locations listed below under the “How to Get Involved” section.
✨ Last Year’s Partnership: KidsPACK, Inc. ✨
Polk County residents showed up in a big way for the 2024 challenge, partnering with local nonprofit KidsPACK to make a significant impact. Together, the community donated an incredible 977 jars of peanut butter, weighing in at a whopping 1,480 pounds. That is almost a 40% increase in jars and 50% increase in total weight compared to 2023’s total of 702 jars of peanut butter, weighing 988 pounds. Amy Royal, Program Manager of KidsPACK, says,
Since 2022, we’ve seen a rise in school food pantries because school meals and KidsPACK weekend meals aren’t enough. Peanut butter is a nutritious and cost-effective way to provide protein, and many churches donate jelly and bread to create easy meal options. A single jar of peanut butter goes a long way in helping keep our kids’ bellies full.”
This year, let’s crush that record! The more jars we collect, the more we can help those in need, so let’s work together and show our community some love.
Let’s make this year’s Peanut Butter Challenge the best one yet!
A heartfelt thank you to the Florida Peanut Producers Association and Florida Peanut Federation for their ongoing support. Together, we can help keep our community strong and full!
How to Get Involved:
Ready to make a difference? Here’s how you can help!
- To join or partner with Polk County’s collection this year, call (863) 519-1041.
- Donate unopened jars of peanut butter at any of the Donation Locations listed below:
- UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
1702 S. Holland Parkway, Bartow, FL 33830 - Winter Haven Public Library
325 Avenue A NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881 - Lakeland Public Library Main
100 Lake Morton Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801 - Haines City Public Library
111 N 6th St, Haines City, FL 33844 - Bartow Public Library
2150 S Broadway Ave, Bartow, FL 33830 - Lake Wales Public Library
290 Cypress Garden Ln, Lake Wales, FL 33853 - Sheriff’s Operations Center
1891 Jim Keene Blvd, Winter Haven, FL 33880 - Any Polk County District Sheriff’s Office:
- Northwest District: 1045 Wedgewood Estates Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33809
- Central District: 3635 Avenue G NW, Winter Haven, FL 33880
- Northeast District: 1100 Dunson Rd, Davenport, FL 33896
- Southwest District: 4120 US Hwy 98 South, Lakeland, FL 33801
- Southeast District: 4011 Sgt. Mary Campbell Way, Lake Wales, FL 33859
- Central County Jail: 2390 Bob Phillips Rd, Bartow, FL 33830
- South County Jail: 1103 US-98, Frostproof, FL 33843
For More Information visit: go.ufl.edu/pbc.
You can also follow along on social media, at https://www.facebook.com/PolkExtension/.
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