PROVISIONAL MEMBERS EXCEED PEANUT BUTTER BUDDIES GOAL FOR CHILDREN
JWL's Spring Provisional class set a goal to collect 3,300 jars of peanut butter for JCPS students in the local BackPack Buddies program. This program provides children from low-income households with nutritious, kid-friendly groceries for the weekend when free school lunches and breakfasts are not provided. An astounding 4,932 jars of peanut butter of every size were collected through 14 Official PBB Donation Stations, numerous donation drives, and monetary donations from businesses and community members alike.
With so many local small businesses, public institutions, FCCLA school clubs, community members, Girl Scout troops, grocery stores, and JWL members joining them in their efforts, this goal was completely blown out of the water! Because of this overwhelming generosity, the Spring Provisional class and their mentors were able to expand the distribution of peanut butter to 1,167 Johnston County children in Backpack Buddies programs in 28 JCPS schools (including Title I schools) over the last few weeks. To further break that down, JWL Smithfield had the means to provide this shelf-stable Superfood offering more than 30 essential vitamins and nutrients to nearly an additional 400 children in need at 23 out of 24 Johnston County elementary schools with Backpack Buddies programs in place, including 1 middle school; and 5 Johnston County middle schools, including 1 high school. My Kid’s Club, a JWL partner organization, also received a donation of 89 jars of peanut butter for the 70 school-aged children who will attend their Summer program.
Guidance counselors at every school have indicated that the impact JWL’s Peanut Butter Buddies drive will have on these children over the course of this summer and into the next school year is quite significant and expressed their appreciation for these donations. Likewise, the Junior Women’s League of Smithfield is grateful for the community’s tremendous support of our 2022 Peanut Butter Buddies Drive.
