WASHINGTON, D.C. – Peanut farmers from Georgia, Alabama,
Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia,
Texas and Oklahoma donated more than 8,000 jars of peanut
butter to Martha’s Table in Washington, D.C. Martha’s
Table’s mission is to help at-risk children, youth,
families and individuals in the Washington, D.C. community
improve their lives by providing educational programs, food,
clothing, and enrichment opportunities.
This organization’s Children, Youth, and Family Program
provides more than 300 children, ages 3 months to 18 years
of age, with nutritious meals and snacks each year. Representatives
of the peanut industry delivered the peanut butter and toured
the facility on March 11, 2009.
“We applaud their focus on nutrition combined with educational
support,” says Armond Morris, chairman of the Georgia
Peanut Commission. “They served 513,503 sandwiches in
2008 and it is our privilege to donate peanut butter to help
them achieve their mission in 2009.”
In addition to the peanut farmer donation of peanut butter,
the American Peanut Shellers Association, Southern Ag Carriers,
Tara Foods and Home Depot also participated in the donation
to Martha’s Table.
“We are very grateful for such a large donation of nutritious
peanut butter. Families that we serve have been hit hard during
this economic crisis and this donation of food will be a great
help to them,” says Lindsey Buss, the president and CEO
of Martha’s Table. “We will be able to distribute
the peanut butter to the community through meals we serve,
during our food pantry and through partner organizations. Peanut
butter is a cost effective way for individuals to receive nutrients
such as protein they need in their diets to stay healthy.”
Martha’s Table carefully tracked the recent recall of
peanut-based products and committed to only serving peanut
butter made by manufacturers not involved in the recall. “We
are pleased with Martha’s Table’s practical and
intelligent approach to the peanut product recall,” Morris
says. All of the peanut butter donated to their organization
is name brand and not involved in the recall and will be nutritious
for the children being served by Martha’s Table.
Martha’s Table is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
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