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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 3, 2010) - With Rhode Island's hunger rate at its highest level in a decade, Washington Trust has launched its 10th annual peanut butter drive - the PB Xpress -- with an ambitious goal - to collect 23 tons of peanut butter in March and April for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Reaching this goal would put the total amount of peanut butter collected in the last 10 years at the 100-ton mark.
"We are committed to reaching this goal and helping to reverse the disturbing level of hunger in Rhode Island," said Washington Trust President and COO Joseph J. MarcAurele, who today joined Rhode Island Community Food Bank Chief Executive Officer Andrew Schiff, bank employees, a food pantry director, school children and members of the nonprofit and business communities at the Food Bank to kick-off this year's PB Xpress.
MarcAurele added, "People ask us why peanut butter? Our answer is simple. It's high in protein, a favorite of many children and adults, but cost-prohibitive for many families. At the same time, it's easy for those of us who are not struggling to pick up a jar of peanut butter and make a donation. And by doing so - a hungry family can make up to 16 peanut butter sandwiches."
Created by Washington Trust in 2001 as a nutritious way to help fight hunger in Rhode Island, the PB Xpress has to date collected 154,000 pounds or 77 tons of peanut butter for hungry Rhode Islanders. It's the largest product-specific food drive to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and makes an impact by capturing the philanthropic spirit of its employees and of Rhode Islanders across the state.
"For the past decade, Washington Trust has dedicated itself to helping Rhode Islanders struggling with hunger by coordinating the annual PB Xpress campaign," said Schiff. "Through the involvement and support of the local businesses, schools and community groups that participate each year, the drive not only brings in highly nutritious and much-needed peanut butter, it reinforces the notion that everyone can do something to help."
Kristen Allen, who is on the front lines of Rhode Island's hunger crisis as a director for Woonsocket's Connecting for Children & Families -- a member agency of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank -- said, "Food instability continues to be an indicator of the difficult economic climate. The number of families seeking food from us has more than tripled this past year-and continues to grow. Campaigns like Washington Trust's PB Xpress are critical to our ability to keep the pantry shelves stocked with nutritious food."
According to organizers of the PB Xpress, the success of each year's campaign rests heavily on the commitment of schools, nonprofit organizations and businesses that get involved. The Junior League of Rhode Island, Inc. is one of many nonprofit organizations that have stepped up with a strong level of commitment. "The goals of Washington Trust's PB Xpress fit well with our group's mission, which is to improve the community through effective leadership and action," said Kim Bigonette, a member of the Junior League. "We are so pleased to be a contributing force to this important campaign, which will provide nutritious food to disadvantaged Rhode Islanders. Given the difficult economic climate, our group got a jump on the campaign this year and has already collected more than 1,000 jars of peanut butter."
School involvement in the PB Xpress is another key component of the campaign. At today's kickoff event, a group of students from the Monsignor Clarke School of Wakefield were present to once again show their support for the statewide peanut butter drive. The school is one of many from across the state that has adopted the campaign as a community service project. School efforts will focus on tapping student leadership to mobilize other students, families and community members to make donations of peanut butter or financial donations for the purchase of peanut butter.
To ensure that this year's PB Xpress hits the 100 ton mark, Washington Trust has stepped up its social and community outreach efforts about the program. The bank has created a Facebook fan page to increase awareness and generate enthusiasm about the campaign and www.peanutbutterbank.com to provide campaign donation information and facts about hunger in Rhode Island.
The Bank also today launched the PB Xpress Pledge to End Hunger and announced a partnership with Cox Media, which will provide free public service announcements about the campaign and a chance for Rhode Islanders to win tickets to the "The 101 Dalmations Musical" at the Providence Performing Arts Center when they drop off a jar of peanut butter.
Rhode Islanders can visit any of Washington Trust's 18 branch locations (locations are attached), drop off a jar of peanut butter and enter to win one of 18 4-packs of tickets for the March 16, 7 p.m. performance. The bank will also have a "Washington Trust/PB Xpress Night" at the March 26 Providence Bruins Game where peanut butter donations will be accepted.
In addition, for the month of March, Roger Williams Park Zoo will offer a free child's admission to anyone who brings a jar of peanut butter (minimum 16 oz. Size) for the PB Xpress to Zoo Admissions. This offer is one per family and not valid in combination with any other promotions.
Donations to the PB Xpress can be made from now through the end of April at any of Washington Trust's branches, at any of the partnering schools, businesses or organizations (list of participants is attached) or they can be picked up by the Food Bank if 300 jars or more have been collected at one site. Additionally, Washington Trust will hold a "collection day" at its Governor Francis branch in Warwick on Saturday, April 24.
Understanding that peanut butter allergies present challenges at some potential collection sites, Washington Trust encourages the collection of 'pennies for peanuts' or 'nickels for nuts' for the PB Xpress. These and online donations made at peanutbutterbank.com will be applied to the wholesale purchase of peanut butter.
For more information about the 10th annual Peanut Butter Xpress, visit www.peanutbutterbank.com.
About Washington Trust:
About the Rhode Island Community Food Bank:
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank is a non-profit organization located in Providence, R.I. The Food Bank solicits, stores and distributes food products donated by supermarkets, wholesalers, food processors, local farmers and community food drives. The food is then distributed to the Food Bank's network of more than 300 member agency programs. In the past fiscal year, the Food Bank distributed 9.5 million pounds of food. For more information about the Food Bank, please visit www.rifoodbank.org