Peanut Butter

For over 100 years, people have turned to peanut butter as a healthy and inexpensive source of protein.  Peanut butter has as much protein per ounce as Salmon for a fraction of the price..

             

Since 2003, our parish has been committed to provide peanut butter to the Storehouse Food Pantry.  Unlike most food pantries which distribute whatever food items they receive, the Storehouse works with other non-profits, like Risen Savior, to provide a healthy assortment of food to families who are hungry.

Risen Savior is the only organization currently collecting peanut butter for the Storehouse.  Our weekly goal of 350 jars of peanut butter covers only 25 percent of the Storehouses' needs.  Unfortunately, 350 jars is a goal which we haven't met in a year.  Our current weekly peanut butter collection averages fewer than 250 jars.  That means that only about 1 in 12 people who attend Mass each week are bringing a jar of peanut butter with them.

Jesus teaches that we are to feed the hungry.  Putting dinner on our family table is certainly part of that teaching.  But we aren't to stop there - we are to seek out those who are less fortunate and care for them, remembering that everything we have is a gift from God, a gift that He has given us to share.

Risen Savior Catholic parish and the Storehouse have called our program, "Each One, Feed One."  Each family at Risen Savior is encouraged to help feed another family.  One jar of peanut butter won't make much of a difference in our food budget, but will make a huge difference to those with hungry children and an empty pantry.

We've all seen and been impacted by food prices that have risen sharply these past few years.  Imagine how it must feel not to be able to provide even the most basic lunch for your child, like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Peanut butter for the Storehouse is this month’s Love Your Neighbor collection.  Next time you're shopping, remember the working people, retired people, single parents, and others who don't have enough to eat, and place a jar – or even two! – of peanut butter in your cart for them.