Woodland Heights Medical Center’s Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive Collects 652 Jars of Peanut Butter for East Texas Food Bank
4/4/2023
Lufkin Texas – To help address hunger in our community, and in celebration of National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day on April 2, Woodland Heights Medical Center is donating more than 650 jars of peanut butter (and other nut butters) to East Texas Food Bank.
All of that peanut butter was donated by Woodland Heights’ employees, medical staff members, and volunteers during the recent Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive.
According to Feeding America, 17.4 percent of residents in Angelina County struggle to put food on the table. The Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive was launched 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,” said Fallon Phillips, Administrative Specialist at Woodland Heights. “Through our Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive, we are working to help fight hunger in our community. Our generous employees stepped up their generosity to be sure we could stock the shelves of the East Texas Food Bank.”
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 the East Texas Food Bank include canned vegetables, canned meats, cereal, jelly, soups, as well as hygiene items.
“We are so appreciative of this amazing peanut butter drive hosted by Woodland Heights Medical Center!” states Rachel Collins, Branch Manager of East Texas Food Bank, Lufkin Branch. “These jars of peanut butter will supply many meals for the neighbors who seek out our assistance that enables them to feed their families. We are so grateful to receive the support of Woodland Heights’ staff and the loving community in which we live. Thank you for helping us with our mission to ‘Fight Hunger and Feed Hope!’”
The East Texas Food Bank (located at 105 Lofton Street in Lufkin) is always in need of volunteers as they serve over 2,000 households each month. This requires a lot of help welcoming neighbors, signing them into the pantry, shopping with our neighbors because we are a healthy choice pantry, stocking the shelves, and keeping the site clean. The food bank loves it when groups come volunteer and wear their t-shirts in promoting their company or organization. Once a month they also have a produce distribution at the Expo Center where neighbors can drive through. The food bank would really love groups, companies, and organizations to adopt a month and come help out or host food drives on their behalf, as well. For more information, call 936-238-3291.
Woodland Heights offers a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox from a trusted medical source. Sign up at WoodlandHeights.net/enewsletter-sign-up.
Woodland Heights Medical Center team members show off the more than 650 jars of peanut butter they collected for the East Texas Food Bank in Lufkin.
Woodland Heights Administrative Specialist Fallon Phillips and Rachel Collins, Branch Manager for the Deep East Texas Resource Center in Lufkin, stand with the 652 jars of peanut butter donated by employees at Woodland Heights Medical Center.
Back