Food to the Rescue collects peanut butter to ‘Spread the Love’

COOKEVILLE– Food to the Rescue asks area residents to “Spread the Love” by donating jars of peanut butter to feed Putnam County youth who do not have consistent access to food. Individuals, organizations and businesses are encouraged to contribute to the campaign as one way to invest in local children. 

“The Putnam County School System enrolls almost 60% of its students in the free and reduced lunch programs. Hunger is a much deeper problem than we realize. Hunger inhibits the ability to learn, which affects the children’s future and that of our community,” said Katelyn Steakley, Food to the Rescue’s assistant director.  

The non-profit began by serving eight families two years ago and has grown exponentially to include families supporting nearly 600 children during Putnam County school breaks. Food to the Rescue continues to enroll additional families and anticipates 3,600 jars are needed for the 2019-2020 distributions. 

The FTTR “Spread the Love” campaign is designed to coincide with September’s “Hunger Action Month,” a time established by Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, calling communities to take actions impacting food-insecurity on local levels.

Peanut Butter donations for the FTTR “Spread the Love” campaign can be dropped off at the Swallows Insurance Agency, 480 Neal St., Ste 100, at Zimmer Broadcasting, 698 S. Willow Ave., or at First National Bank of Tennessee, 412 South Jefferson Ave. Other companies participating in the collection are Phoenix USA and Averitt Express.

Food to the Rescue is a Christian organization staffed by volunteers and representing various churches, organizations and businesses working together to eliminate food insecurity among Putnam County’s children who are one to 17 years old. Families must meet guidelines and apply to receive food help during the school district’s seasonal breaks. 

The Cookeville non-profit is built on 1 John 3:18, “Let us love not with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.” Local activist Ashley Swann had the vision for the ministry after learning there are local children who do not eat when school is not in session. Applications and monetary donations can be made at:  https://www.foodtotherescue.org/.

For more information, email Katelyn Steakley at foodtotherescue@yahoo.com.

Submit your story ideas to the Upper Cumberland Business Journal! via email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.