Humanitartian Relief aid
Peanut butter is the number one most requested item by food banks in the U.S. The Georgia Peanut Commission donates peanut butter annually to food banks across Georgia through Peanut Proud and Peanut Butter for the Hungry. Individuals, organizations and businesses are able to help as well by donating online to Peanut Proud or Peanut Butter for the Hungry. We are able to arrange jars of peanut butter for delivery at well below retail prices.
In March, GPC donates peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank in celebration of National Peanut Month. During the COVID-19 pandemic, GPC assisted food banks across the state of Georgia by donating 21,600 jars of peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank in Atlanta, the Foodbank of Northeast Georgia in Athens and Second Harvest of South Georgia in Albany and Valdosta.
In 2010, Peanut Proud, Inc. was established as a non-profit organization with the main goal of “uniting the peanut community by celebrating its pride through humanitarian efforts and the recognition of excellence.” Volunteers participated in food drives to collect peanut butter and donations for local food banks; a scholarship in food safety was established with funding from the peanut industry and Blakely community members; a second festival was planned for Blakely. Outside the U.S., the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti demonstrated the need for all people to have access to nutritious, shelf stable food like peanut butter. Peanut Proud volunteers worked with relief agencies already on the ground to deliver eight truckloads of peanut butter to Haiti over a seven-week period. Peanut Proud continues to operate around the clock supporting the peanut industry and communities in need, thanks in no small part to the passion and dedication of its volunteers. Recent highlights include donations of peanut butter across the U.S. during times of natural disasters from tornadoes, hurricanes and more.
Peanut Butter for the Hungry is an initiative of the peanut industry in the United States (including growers, shellers, manufacturers and allied industry members) to help malnourished children in places where resources are limited. This includes encouraging the donation of shelf stable, protein rich peanut butter to food banks throughout the U.S., as well as supporting the production and delivery of so-called ready-to-use therapeutic food (or RUTF) to food insecure countries in the developing world.
Peanut Butter for the Hungry is a program managed by the American Peanut Council; staff donates their time at no cost. Industry professionals with varied expertise at member companies also donate significant amounts of time for programs. Funds are collected from members, individuals and other associations to help pay for donated products, equipment and transporting supplies to places that need it most, among other things.