The Washington Trust Company officially kicked off its nineteenth annual Washington Trust Peanut Butter Drive with more than 2,600 pounds of peanut butter collected at a recent employee appreciation event. The annual drive, which runs through the end of April, benefits the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and local food pantries across Rhode Island and Southeastern Connecticut. Washington Trust has collected 256,000 pounds, or 128 tons of peanut butter since the drive began in 2001. That is enough peanut butter to make more than three million peanut butter sandwiches.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 12 percent of Rhode Islanders (51,000 households) are food insecure, meaning they are often unsure where their next meal will come from due to a lack of resources. The Peanut Butter Drive helps to fill that need. Peanut Butter, which can be expensive for families, is a versatile superfood with a long shelf life and more than 30 essential vitamins and nutrients. One jar can make 16 sandwiches for a hungry family.

People can support the 2019 Washington Trust Peanut Butter Drive by dropping off a jar of PB to any Washington Trust branch or office location. People can also visit peanutbutterbank.com to make an online donation to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. A $5 donation helps the food bank buy four jars of Peanut Butter. Additionally, Washington Trust will be collecting Peanut Butter at a free Community Shred Event on Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at various Washington Trust branch locations. Visit www.washtrust.com/Shred for details.