Jewish Family Services is kicking off its annual “Spread the Love” food campaign — beginning Feb. 1 throughout the month, JFS is asking for donations of spreadables including peanut butter, jelly, ketchup, honey, and other non-perishable items.
Through its two locations, the JFS Food Pantry distributes hundreds of jars of peanut butter and other non-perishables, fresh foods, diapers, cleaning supplies, paper goods, hygiene items and pet food to more than 700 families.
During Spread the Love, JFS hopes to collect 2,500 jars of spreadables to stock its pantry shelves. JFS says food insecurity affects an estimated 19% of children aged 18 and under in Jackson County, Missouri, where JFS hosts its Brookside food pantry. Peanut butter is a food pantry staple due to being shelf-stable and a nutritional source of protein. Supply chain issues and inflation continue to take its toll on pantry inventory, and JFS invites the community to seize this opportunity and donate.
JFS encourages individuals, businesses, organizations, schools, youth groups and neighborhoods to “spread the love” by hosting a food drive during February.
JFS is offering numerous opportunities to drop off donations:
- Sunday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m. to noon: Community Food Drive in designated barrels in front circle drive of the Jewish Community Campus, 5801 W. 115th St. In Overland Park
- Any weekday during business hours in the lobby of the Jewish Community Campus or in the barrel around the back of the Brookside location
“If you are hosting a playoff watch party, ask guests to bring a peanut butter and jelly donation for JFS,” said Jo Hickey, Director of JFS Pantry Partnerships. “Or if your workplace has a ‘Wear Red Day,’ we suggest a little friendly competition with a peanut butter collection challenge between departments, and everyone becomes a winner.”
Local businesses across the Kansas City metro are also participating. Servaes Brewing Company (Shawnee, Kansas) is releasing four peanut butter beers and encouraging patrons to donate to Spread the Love on Saturday, Jan. 28. Other businesses, such as Revocup Coffee (Leawood, Kansas) host drop off sites for customers during the month of February.
JFS can drop off barrels or totes for your collection and pick up the donations at the conclusion of your drive. Graphics for posters, email and social media are available at SpreadTheLove (jfskc.org/spread-the-love). Donors may also purchase items for the food pantry directly through the JFS Pantry Wish List on Amazon (amzn.to/3XH5v7Z) or make a financial contribution to the pantry at jfskc.org.
Those interested in hosting a drive for the Super Bowl or anytime during February, email or call Jo Hickey at (913) 327-8257 to coordinate dates.
