Chamber's Peanut Butter Drive boosts Rhode Island Community Food Bank

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The reception area inside the North Central Chamber of Commerce’s headquarters at 255 Greenville Ave. in Johnston was overflowing late last week with different size cardboard boxes that were filled with jars of peanut butter.

“We’ve got super size Skippy!” Kelly Patz, the NCCC’s events coordinator, exclaimed as she held up an economy-size container of the famous peanut butter.

Patz and Shar DiMaio – the Chamber’s 2014 Volunteer of the Year – had some fun while they unloaded a seemingly endless supply of different size jars of peanut butter. Perhaps never before in the Chamber’s history has there been so much peanut butter in one location, let alone the organization’s small space.

It was all part of the Chamber’s first-ever attempt to help fill up the Rhode Island Community Food Bank with peanut butter.

People like Patz and DiMaio, as well as Chamber Executive Director Deborah Ramos, probably wish there was triple the amount of peanut that Monday was donated to the Cranston-based non-profit organization.

The Chamber organized and sponsored the “Peanut Butter Drive” during the month of June in hopes of filling a huge void – and important need – in the community during the summer months.

“When school is out, families whose children qualify for free or reduced priced lunches at different schools often have a difficult time providing healthy meals,” Patz explained. “Peanut butter is high in protein and calories, rich in vitamins and kids love it. It’s often a simple meal, as well.”

Patz went on to say, “that’s why we held this special drive. The Community Food Bank can never have enough supplies. We felt that this would be a big boost.”

And the Chamber’s first-ever Peanut Butter Drive was indeed a huge success.

Earlier this week, Patz and Ramos announced that the organization collected 125 pounds of peanut butter that came from generous Chamber members and even some people who saw the promotion sign outside of the group’s headquarters.

Meanwhile, The Bridge at Cherry Hill – the Johnston-based assistant living and retirement center – turned over a total of 71 pounds of peanut butter for the drive.

Maryann Grace, The Bridge’s general manager, challenged her different department heads to collect as much peanut butter as possible. In the end, the dietary department won that particular challenge and brought in 41 of the 71 pounds collected.

Other departments at The Bridge that participated in the Peanut Butter Drive were the activities, wellness and reception/management teams.

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