Laredo Medical Center’s Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive Collects Over 1,800 Jars of Peanut Butter for South Texas Food Bank

4/1/2023

LAREDO, TEXAS (March 28, 2023) – To help address hunger in our community, and in celebration of National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day on April 2, Laredo Medical Center has donated 1,817 jars of peanut butter (and other nut butters) to the South Texas Food Bank.

All of that peanut butter was donated by Laredo Medical Center employees, medical staff, and volunteers, as well as by students and other generous individuals from the community, during the recent Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive.

According to Alma Boubel, Executive Director of the South Texas Food Bank, 1 in 6 people and 1 in 4 children in Laredo and surrounding communities, struggle to put food on the table. The Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive was launched to help support individuals who are facing food insecurity, which is a social determinant of health.

"Food insecurity has a significant impact on a person’s overall health and wellbeing,” says Jorge Leal, FACHE, CEO of Laredo Medical Center. “Through our Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive, we are working to help fight hunger in Laredo and surrounding communities. Our generous employees and community really stepped up to be sure we could stock the shelves and outdid themselves by surpassing our donation goal.”

On Monday, during the donation presentation to the food bank, Leal put on a Mr. Peanut costume as part of his pledge to hospital employees if they were able to meet their goal of collecting 1,000 peanut butter jars. Leal was pleased to wear the costume to show his pride for the hospital’s 1,200-plus employees.

Peanut butter is one of the most requested items for food banks because it is highly nutritious and has a long shelf life. Unfortunately, many food banks in America report it is also one of the least donated food items. Other foods needed by food banks include any non-perishables such as canned or dry beans, canned vegetables, grains, cereal, canned fruits, or any type of healthy snacks.

"We are committed to fighting hunger in the South Texas area but we cannot do it alone," said Alma Boubel. "We are very grateful to Laredo Medical Center for thinking of our mission and our clients. It means a lot to us, but especially to our clients who are the beneficiaries of this great effort."

Food drives are one of the ways that the community can help fight hunger. Other ways include making a monetary donation or volunteering. For every dollar donated, 10 meals will be provided to individuals in need of food assistance. Additionally, volunteering as an individual or organizing an employee volunteer is another way to get involved. Our programs require over 10,000 bags to be packed monthly, and with the support of the community the food bank can reach those numbers quickly and efficiently.

CUTLINE: Laredo Medical Center donated over 1,800 peanut butter jars as part of their first Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive to benefit clients of the South Texas Food Bank on Monday, March 27. From left to right, hospital and food bank representatives are Ivonne Acosta, Jenny Lo Garcia, Alex Carraman, CEO Jorge Leal, Marisa Hein and Priscilla Salinas.

Back