Peanut butter collection boxes were “jammed up” in Santa Rosa County during the 2016 UF/IFAS Extension Peanut Butter Challenge! Extension Agents Mary Derick and Chris Verlinde oversaw Santa Rosa’s smooth operation which totaled 1053 jars (2055.9 lbs.) to “help take a bite out of hunger” for local residents in need. Donation boxes were made available to employees and patrons of the following:
- UF/IFAS extension offices in Milton, Jay and Midway
- All five county public libraries and all nine county offices, coordinated by the IT department
- Santa Rosa County Tax Collector
- City of Milton offices
- Jay High and Elementary School
- St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Milton
- Lowe’s in Pace and Gulf Breeze
- United Bank locations in Jay, Pace and Milton
- Chumuckla Elementary School
- UWF Student Social Workers Organization
- TR Jackson Pre-K Center
In addition to the local drive, the Florida Peanut Producers Association will donate four pallets of peanut butter to be distributed across the northwest Florida district. More than 400 jars have been given to the families who participated in the Farm to City Event in Milton on Nov. 22, with the remainder going to local food pantries including Family Resources, Feeding the Gulf Coast and various area churches.
