Vermont Business Magazine United Way of Bennington and Rutland Counties and Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging (SVCOA) has announced that participants of the 2019 “Peanut Butter & Jam Slam” collected a total of 4,757 jars of peanut butter and jelly to benefit local food shelves.
“This was truly a heartwarming event with a tremendous outpouring of support from so many local organizations to help families in need in our area,” said Caprice Hover, executive director with United Way of Bennington and Rutland Counties. “We are so appreciative of everyone in the community for their generosity, and thankful to BROC and Vermont Farmers Food Center for serving as food drop-off sites.”
The event, in its first year in Rutland County and third year in Bennington County, challenged local businesses, schools, churches, non-profits and other organizations to collect as many jars of peanut butter and jelly as possible between March 18 and April.
In Bennington County, 12 different organizations collected 2,985 items for the challenge, with Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) topping the list with 2,103 jars collected. The runner-up in Bennington County was the Village Chocolate Shoppe with an impressive 502 jars.
Other Bennington County challenge participants included Early Childhood Center, Fisher Elementary School, Sacred Heart of Bennington, Southern Vermont College, Vermont Newsguide, Bennington Rotary Club, Bennington Physical Therapy, Bennington Health and Rehab, Revolution Fitness Club and SVCOA / GMRSVP.
Green Mountain Power claimed the inaugural Rutland County “Peanut Butter & Jam Slam” title, bringing in 404 jars. Rutland Regional Medical Center finished in second place with 350 jars. 14 additional participants boosted the GMP and RRMC collections to bring the Rutland County total to 1,772 jars total.
Other Rutland County challenge participants included Barstow Memorial School, Castleton University Center for Community Engagement, Community College of Vermont, People’s United Bank of Fair Haven, Peoples United Bank of Rutland, Rutland United Methodist Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Casella Waste Systems, Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum, Meub Gallivan and Larson, VELCO, TD Bank of Rutland, Rutland Public Schools and SVCOA.
About United Way of Bennington and Rutland Counties
United Way of Bennington County and United Way of Rutland County recently joined to serve as one of 1,200 United Ways in the United States, and one of 1,800 worldwide. We are an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the common good, focusing on health, education and financial stability.
For more information about UWBRC, please contact Caprice Hover at 802-773-7477.
About SVCOA
Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging exists to be a community force in creating and sustaining opportunities for elders and caregivers in our region to help assure that elders are able to maintain maximum independence and quality of life.
Source: SVCOA 4.4.2019. For more information about SVCOA, visit www.svcoa.org.
