Mat-Su Regional Medical Center “spreads the love” with key food bank staple
Canned goods — like beans, tomatoes or tuna — are what come to mind for many when considering high-value food bank items. But Mat-Su Regional General Hospital in Palmer, Alaska, hosts an annual event to collect a surprising pantry staple to place high on your donation list: peanut butter.
Peanut butter has long been a sought-after item for food pantries, thanks to its long shelf life and nutritional value. Mat-Su Regional Medical Center sees it as a critical tool in the fight against hunger within the community, in which an estimated 20% of residents experience food insecurity.
The team collected more than 1,300 jars of the protein-packed spread during their second annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive on April 2, also National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day.
“We recognize the impact hunger has on an individual’s health and wellbeing, and we want to help those in our community who are struggling with food insecurity,” said Dave Wallace, CEO of Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. “Our Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive was a great way to partner with community members to reduce hunger in our area.”