Merit Health Hosts Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive to Fight Hunger

3/21/2024

Mayor Dan Gibson and City of Natchez Join our Efforts

NATCHEZ, Miss. – March 20, 2024 – Merit Health Natchez invites community members to join the hospital’s efforts to fight hunger by participating in the second annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive benefitting the Natchez Stewpot, and the food pantries at Pilgrim Baptist Church and Natchez First Assembly of God. Peanut butter is a sought after item for food banks because of its high nutritional value and long shelf life. Yet, it is one of the least donated items. The Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive kicks off this week and will run through Monday, March 25.

Last year our hospital employees collected 439 jars of peanut butter that were distributed to local food banks. This year, we are excited to announce Mayor Dan Gibson and the City of Natchez are joining us in our Jars of Love collection drive to help us spread awareness to community members, businesses, and civic organizations that we need and welcome their participation. Our goal this year is to collect 1,500 jars of peanut butter or other nut butters,” said Samrow.

“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 Kevin Samrow, CEO of Merit Health Natchez. This is a great way to partner with community members to reduce hunger in our area.”

“The City of Natchez is excited to be a part of this community endeavor to help stock our local food banks with nutritious peanut butter and other nut butters that will be distributed to those who need it most in our community,” said Mayor Dan Gibson. “This is one more great opportunity to give our caring citizens an opportunity to come together in the fight against hunger. I would like to personally challenge our local banks, downtown businesses, civic organizations and anyone else to consider being a part of this by collecting jars of peanut butter at your locations. We applaud CEO Kevin Samrow and his employees at Merit Health Natchez for their work last year with this project and for including our community this year,” conclude Mayor Gibson.

Currently, peanut butter donations can be dropped off at any of the following locations:

• Merit Health Natchez
• Merit Health Natchez Outpatient Therapy Services, first floor of The Doctors’ Pavilion
• Natchez City Hall

If a business or civic organization would like to join our list of collection sites, please contact Kay Ketchings at Merit Health Natchez, 601-443-2534.

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