Join the Peanut Butter Challenge!
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 our county! To see where you can bring donations, check out the Donation Locations listed below under the “How to Get Involved” section.
Students Step Up to the Challenge
The Peanut Butter Challenge is all about bringing communities together, and the Kathleen Senior High School FFA Program students are stepping up to the challenge! Students are spreading the word, promoting the campaign and collecting peanut butter right at their school. Through their efforts, they’re not only helping provide an important food item for local families in need, but also turning service into action and seeing firsthand how they can make a meaningful difference in their community. We’re grateful to have these students join the challenge and excited to see the impact they’ll make!
Let’s make this year’s Peanut Butter Challenge the best one yet!
Polk County residents showed up in a big way for the 2025 challenge, partnering with Polk County Public Schools to make a significant impact. Together, the community donated an incredible 1,844 jars of peanut butter, weighing in at a whopping 2,661 pounds. An impressive 89% increase in jars and nearly 80% more in weight. Altogether, that’s 42,599 ounces of peanut butter, plus a sweet bonus of 8 jars of grape jelly (13.75 lbs.). This incredible growth is proof that when Polk County comes together, we can make a BIG impact.
And we’re doing it again! For the 2026 Peanut Butter Challenge, we are proud to once again partner with Polk County Public Schools (PCPS), with donations benefiting 31 food pantries within our local schools. We are grateful to Dr. Brittanie Ramsey, SHRM-CP, Community Liaison Director with PCPS, for the continued partnership and for helping make the connection between this community-wide effort and the schools and families it serves.
The more jars we collect, the more we can help those in need, so let’s work together and show our community some love. 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/.
2
