By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Save Mart holds annual peanut butter drive
peanut butter pic
Save Mart is participating in the 2016 Peanut Butter Drive to help local food banks feed hungry children over the summer. - photo by ANGELINA MARTIN/The Journal

Giving back is now as simple as purchasing a jar of peanut butter or jelly thanks to Save Mart Supermarkets’ “Peanut Butter Roundup,” which raises both awareness and donations for the struggles that many families face during the summer when their children have no access to school meals.

From now until May 31, Jif peanut butter and Smucker’s jelly are each offering a buy one, give one promotion for shoppers, making participation for shoppers easy. Every time a jar of peanut butter or jelly is purchased, shoppers receive another jar to donate. Jars may then be placed in the conveniently located collection barrels near the cashier. Last year, Save Mart and its sister store Lucky received nine tons of peanut butter during a similar drive.

This year’s event will also feature a “roundup” at the cash register, where shoppers can roundup their grocery bill. One hundred percent of the change benefits local food banks. Both the Geer Road and Lander Avenue Save Mart locations are participating this year, and according to Lander Avenue store manager Tony DeWinkle, all donations will be sent to Second Harvest Food Bank, which serves Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties.

“It’s been successful and it’s going really well so far,” said DeWinkle of the drive. “The customers are really enjoying it.”

According to the California Association of Food Banks, one in four of the state’s children go to bed hungry, or 2.3 million kids. Peanut butter is high in protein and has a long shelf life, making it the perfect donation item for local food banks. Not to mention kids enjoy it, too.

“We raised enough peanut butter in 2015 to make more than a quarter million sandwiches,” said Nicole Pesco, Co-President and Chief Strategy and Branding Officer of Save Mart, in a released statement. “We’re thrilled to be able to help the communities our stores serve.”

 

Those who participate in the roundup are encouraged to use #PeanutButterRoundup on social media in order to help the cause.