TIFTON, Ga. (Sept. 8, 2020) – The Georgia Peanut Commission and the Trae Young Family Foundation partnered to donate 7,200 jars of Peanut Proud peanut butter to metro Atlanta school food pantries during the month of August.
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Peanut butter, one of the most requested items among food banks, is one of Young’s favorite snacks he enjoys regularly to stay nourished and ready to play for the Atlanta Hawks. In his recently completed second season, Young was named an Eastern Conference All-Star and finished fourth in the NBA in scoring (29.6 points per game) and second in assists (9.3 assists per game).
The donation took place in cooperation with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Peanut Proud. Peanut Proud is a humanitarian organization within the U.S. peanut industry working to aid in domestic hunger relief and emergency disaster relief through the distribution of peanut butter. The Atlanta Community Food Bank provides food and grocery products to more than 600 nonprofit partner agencies with hunger relief programs throughout 29 counties in metro Atlanta and north Georgia. Eighteen schools throughout the metro Atlanta area will be utilized for school distributions allowing local families suffering from food insecurity greater access to nutritious meals.
“There are so many people in need of quality meals right now with school starting and the pandemic impacting how all of us live our lives,” Young said. “I am thankful to be working with a great organization in Peanut Proud to help supply families with a nutritious food option during these tough times.”
The Georgia Peanut Commission conducts programs in the areas of research, promotion and education on behalf of the state’s 4,500 peanut farm families, who grow 50% of the peanuts in the United States. Peanuts are the official state crop, and peanut butter is the No. 1 product made from Georgia peanuts. Packed with seven grams of energy-boasting protein per serving, as well as more than 30 essential vitamins and nutrients, peanuts are considered a Superfood; making peanut butter a nutrient-dense option for growing children.
“As peanut farmers, we are proud to grow a safe and nutritious product, as well as share that product with others who may not have access to enough nutritious meals,” Joe Boddiford, Promotion Committee chairman for the Georgia Peanut Commission said. “Peanut butter’s health benefits support a healthy and active lifestyle for all ages.”
The most recent Hunger in America report by the Atlanta Community Food Bank estimated that 755,400 people in metro Atlanta and north Georgia turn to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families each year. This includes more than 164,000 children.
“We are so thankful to the Georgia Peanut Commission for their generous donation that will greatly assist our mobile school pantry distributions. These distributions are vitally important in ensuring children in our community receive much needed, shelf-stable necessities, like peanut butter,” Shana Watts, Atlanta Community Food Bank food sourcing specialist said.
To learn more about donating peanut butter to those in need, as well as the activities of the Georgia Peanut Commission, visit www.gapeanuts.com.