Laredo Medical Center’s Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive Collects Over 3,500 Jars of Peanut Butter for South Texas Food Bank
4/12/2024
To help address hunger in our community, and in celebration of National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day, Laredo Medical Center donated 3,529 jars of peanut butter (and other nut butters) to the South Texas Food Bank on April 2.
All of the peanut butter was donated by Laredo Medical Center employees, medical staff, and volunteers, as well as by students and other generous individuals from the community, during the hospital’s second annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive.
The hospital received support from the Laredo Heat Soccer Club, the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos baseball team and several schools, including the largest donation by an external group, Trautmann Middle School, with 302 jars.
According to Alma Boubel, executive director of the South Texas Food Bank, 1 in 6 people and 1 in 4 children in Laredo and surrounding communities, struggle to put food on the table. The Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive was launched last year to help support individuals who are facing food insecurity, which is a social determinant of health.
"Food insecurity has a significant impact on a person’s overall health and wellbeing,” says Jorge Leal, FACHE, CEO of Laredo Medical Center. “Through our second Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive, Team LMC and our community are working together to help fight hunger in Laredo and surrounding communities. Our generous employees and community really stepped up to be sure we could stock the shelves and outdid themselves by surpassing our donation goal.”
During the donation presentation to the food bank, Leal put on a Mr. Peanut costume as part of his pledge to hospital employees if they were able to meet their goal of collecting 2,100 peanut butter jars. Leal was pleased to wear the costume to show his pride for the hospital’s 1,200-plus employees and the outcome of the food drive.
Peanut butter is one of the most requested items for food banks because it is highly nutritious and has a long shelf life. Unfortunately, many food banks in America report it is also one of the least donated food items. Other foods needed by food banks include any non-perishables such as canned or dry beans, canned vegetables, grains, cereal, canned fruits, or any type of healthy snacks.
"We are committed to fighting hunger in the South Texas area but we cannot do it alone," said Alma Boubel. "We are very grateful to Laredo Medical Center for thinking of our mission and our clients. It means a lot to us, but especially to our clients who are the beneficiaries of this great effort."
Food drives are one of the ways that the community can help fight hunger. Other ways include making a monetary donation or volunteering. For every dollar donated, 10 meals will be provided to individuals in need of food assistance.
Additionally, volunteering as an individual or organizing an employee volunteer is another way to get involved. The South Texas Food Bank’s programs require over 10,000 bags to be packed monthly, and with the support of the community, the food bank can reach those numbers quickly and efficiently.
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