Charlotte Observer Logo

Community answers call for peanut butter | Charlotte Observer

×
  • E-edition
  • Customer Service
  • Advertise
  • Newsletters

    • News
    • Local
    • Crime
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Election
    • Politics
    • Nation/World
    • Special Reports
    • North Carolina
    • South Carolina
    • Corrections
    • Columnists
    • Retro Charlotte
    • Your Schools
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Sports
    • Carolina Panthers
    • Charlotte Hornets
    • That's Racin'
    • High Schools
    • College Sports
    • Charlotte Knights/MLB
    • Other Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Inside the Panthers
    • Inside the NBA
    • Prep Insiders
    • Scott Fowler
    • Tom Sorensen
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The North Carolina Influencer Series
    • RNC 2020
    • Business
    • Banking
    • Stocks Center
    • Top Workplaces
    • National Business
    • What's in Store
    • Development
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Living
    • Religion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Family
    • Home & Garden
    • CLT Style
    • Travel
    • Living Here Guide
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • I'll Bite
    • Kathleen Purvis
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Arts/Culture
    • Events
    • Movie News & Reviews
    • Restaurants
    • Music/Nightlife
    • Television
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Rewards
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Kevin Siers
    • Letters
    • Submit an Op-ed
    • Submit a Letter
    • Viewpoint
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • O-Pinion
    • You Write The Caption
    • Taylor Batten
    • Peter St. Onge
  • Celebrations
  • Obituaries
  • TV Listings

  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Virtual Career Fair
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • Place an ad
  • Mobile & Apps

  • MomsCharlotte
  • Carolina Bride Magazine
  • South Park Magazine

Local

Community answers call for peanut butter

By Amy Baldwin - abaldwin@charlotteobserver.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

June 09, 2008 12:00 AM

Across Charlotte, people are paying it forward with peanut butter as their currency.

When word spread in May 31 editions of the Observer that shelves at area food pantries were bare – at a time when a vise of spiking gas prices, higher food costs and job losses have families in a vise – people responded.

At least two churches, Myers Park United Methodist and Friendship Missionary Baptist, are rallying members to bring in jars of peanut butter – the one staple that food pantry directors told the Observer they use most often and rarely get enough of.

Kids are holding neighborhood drives, collecting cash and food. The Loaves & Fishes food ministry received $800 and a carload of food that a high school boy collected from neighbors.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

One couple sent in a $1,000 check.

“I am very gratified, but not surprised,” said Beverly Howard, executive director of the 33-year-old organization, which runs food pantries in area. “When the words goes out that Loaves & Fishes needs help, people tend to respond.”

Peanut butter is a great food pantry donation, because it's high in protein and has a long shelf life, Howard said. But pantries don't typically get a lot of it, because people often have just one open jar of peanut butter.

Howard said Loaves & Fishes is “holding its own” right now, but the group expects another spike in demand after Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools – and their cafeterias – close for the summer this week.

At Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, donations poured in last week, said executive director Kay Carter. A 12-year-old brought in $240 he raised in his neighborhood. People also sent cash donations and e-mailed offers to volunteer.

One woman e-mailed to say she asked members of her book club to bring peanut butter to their meeting, Carter said. Every month the group is going to collect a different item to donate to Second Harvest. This woman is going to ask her bunco group to do the same, and her husband is going to organize a food drive among coworkers.

“If one person kind of takes this on and connects with everyone in their life, think of how much impact we can have,” Carter said. “We have gotten dozens of these e-mails.”

Second Harvest is often asked if it can take fresh produce, including bumper crops from private gardens, Carter said. The answer: a resounding yes.

“We encourage people to plant extra rows and donate,” she said.

Second Harvest supplies food to pantries that serve individuals and to kitchens that serve free meals. So about 25 percent of what it deals in is perishable food, Carter said. It can also take frozen foods, such as turkeys, and refrigerated items, such as milk.

“Basically, anything they want to bring us,” Carter said, “we can use.”

  Comments  

Videos

Rookie USA Kids Fashion Show features celebrities in Charlotte

Owners HQ shoe showcasing event at Mint wows fans

View More Video

Trending Stories

After multiple attempts, Charlotte council member Braxton Winston gets served

February 15, 2019 11:29 AM

The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was looking weak. Then some strong basketball saved it.

February 16, 2019 02:26 AM

That trendy CBD product in your smoothie? Adding it is illegal, NC officials say

February 15, 2019 11:56 AM

Largest tribe in East called NC home for centuries. Feds say it’s not Indian enough.

February 15, 2019 08:40 AM

The NFL reaches a settlement with Colin Kaepernick. And EVERYONE is talking about it

February 16, 2019 08:00 AM

things to do

Read Next

Gunshot victim found in SUV that smashed into a parked car on a Charlotte road

Crime

Gunshot victim found in SUV that smashed into a parked car on a Charlotte road

By Joe Marusak

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 16, 2019 07:53 PM

A gunshot victim died at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the SUV he was found in hit a parked car, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE LOCAL

Driver fatally shoots stranger who jumped on car hood, broke window in Charlotte

Crime

Driver fatally shoots stranger who jumped on car hood, broke window in Charlotte

February 16, 2019 07:00 PM
‘Please hurry:’ Police release emotional 911 audio from Rock Hill triple shooting

Crime

‘Please hurry:’ Police release emotional 911 audio from Rock Hill triple shooting

February 15, 2019 03:52 PM
The other big Duke-Carolina game: Will the Daily Tar Heel or The Chronicle prevail?

Local

The other big Duke-Carolina game: Will the Daily Tar Heel or The Chronicle prevail?

February 15, 2019 07:16 PM
How a 1984 sneaker deal for Michael Jordan evolved into a $3-billion empire

Local

How a 1984 sneaker deal for Michael Jordan evolved into a $3-billion empire

February 15, 2019 04:25 PM
Largest tribe in East called NC home for centuries. Feds say it’s not Indian enough.

Local

Largest tribe in East called NC home for centuries. Feds say it’s not Indian enough.

February 15, 2019 08:40 AM
Stanley, a rare white rhinoceros, has died at the NC Zoo at a ripe old age

Local

Stanley, a rare white rhinoceros, has died at the NC Zoo at a ripe old age

February 15, 2019 05:29 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Charlotte Observer App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Photo Store
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story