Merit Health Second Annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive Collects Over 5,300 Pounds of Peanut Butter For Mississippi Food Network

3/31/2024

Merit Health recently held its second annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive, benefitting the Mississippi Food Network. In celebration of National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day on April 2, Merit Health partnered with local businesses and organizations to help fight hunger in Central Mississippi, and through those efforts nearly 5,000 jars, more than 5,300 pounds, of peanut butter were donated to the Mississippi Food Network.

Joining Merit Health in the Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive were Ergon, Pafford and AMR Emergency Medical Services, accentCare Home Health, Hinds Community College Nursing and Allied Health, Holmes Community College Nursing and the Mississippi College Athletic Department. Chamber of Commerce partners included Flowood, Pearl, Rankin, Clinton and the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership.

“We are grateful for the many community partners who enthusiastically joined us in the fight against hunger in our state,” said Sam Dean, market CEO of the Merit Health Jackson hospitals. “Through the generous donations of these partners, as well as from our employees, medical staff and board members, we were able to increase our contribution to the Mississippi Food Network by over 200% from last year. We appreciate the Mississippi Food Network’s efforts to reduce food insecurity in our state, and are honored to do our part to stock the shelves for those in need in our community.”

“The number of families struggling with making ends meet are at an all-time high,” says Mississippi Food Network COO Cass Mobley. “This includes working families and seniors on fixed incomes. Increasing grocery prices, affordable housing and medical costs are some of the things our neighbors find difficult to afford. Merit Health’s Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive will provide over 4,400 meals and help families add a nutritious staple item to their meals. MS Food Network is so grateful for the peanut butter that has been provided but also for the collaboration of Merit Health and their partners in doubling the donation in 2024.”

For more information on how to support the Mississippi Food Network, or to sign up as a volunteer, visit their website at www.msfoodnet.org.

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