The Need is Greater Than Ever as Washington Trust Kicks Off its Annual Peanut Butter Drive

Right off Route 10, where Providence meets Cranston, sits a 77,000 square foot warehouse that is bustling with activity. Inside, the team is working to get food into the hands of the 1 out of every 4 Rhode Islanders who are food insecure.

In partnership with their network of more than 160 member agencies located throughout the state, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank helps to fill the gap that exists for more than 25% of families in RI. The Food Bank focuses on the distribution of “core foods”- healthy options like fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, protein, beans and dairy products, which can be used together to prepare healthy meals.

Many families who are food insecure are forced to make difficult decisions. Do I pay rent, do I pay for my medicine, or do I go to the grocery store? After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, these decisions were even more difficult. Many food insecure families faced increased pressure due to job losses, the closure of schools and childcare facilities, and increased economic uncertainty across the board.

The need in the community increased by more than 26%, and the Food Bank’s network is now serving 68,000 people each month– up from 53,000 just last year. Even with the federal government’s assistance which, among other things, provided additional SNAP benefits and introduced a Pandemic-EBT program, the need continues to grow.

Now, more than ever, Washington Trust and our partners at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank need your support to ensure no Rhode Islander goes hungry.

Washington Trust is committed to helping to create and sustain healthy communities. To that end, we are pleased to be hosting our 21^st annual “Peanut Butter Drive” to help our partners at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank secure much-needed resources to get healthy options like peanut butter on the tables of our neighbors in need.

Over the past 20+ years, our employees, customers, and community partners have collected more than 143 TONS of peanut butter- enough to make more than 4.5 million peanut butter sandwiches!

We’re counting on your support to make this year’s virtual Peanut Butter Drive a success. Just $5 can secure 5 jars of peanut butter- donate today by visiting peanutbutterbank.com!