County resource officers collecting donations Saturday
By Cathy Kozlowicz
Correspondent
Peanut butter, as far as foods go, is kind of in a category by itself but is also versatile as it goes with many things from spreads to fruit to celery as well as being used in a variety of recipes.
In an effort to host a fun drive and stock the shelves, the Walworth County Food Pantry is hoping to collect 5,000 jars of peanut butter to be given to countless families.
Executive Director Susan Hughes said if 5,000 jars are collected, the stock will last roughly eight months at the pantry.
Ally Braden was among the students at Brookwood Elementary School in Genoa City that helped with the drive by collecting 160 jars.
“Peanut butter is way more fun than vegetables,” Braden, who is 7 and a second-grade student at Brookwood, said.
“I like apples with peanut butter or peanut butter sandwiches with gluten free bread are good, too. My favorite is puppy chow,” she said, referring to a snack that can feature peanut butter.
Braden said she asked her mother to go to the store to buy extra jars of peanut butter to help with this drive.
“It was fun,” she said.
But her idea was born from a lesson.
Kindness Week leads to efforts
April Fitzsimmons, school counselor and Stephanie Arshem, a teacher at Brookwood Elementary School coordinated a kindness week for her students and one of the goals was to learn and understand kindness and empathy to others. With a series of challenges and activities, one activity was that the students viewed a three-minute child appropriate video about hunger in the communities. They also learned that one in five students are living in hunger.
Braden said she feels “really good about giving peanut butter because one in five kids don’t have a lot of food.
“It makes me sad. Some of them don’t have as much food as other people do. I know that some of the kids around here don’t have a lot of food,” Braden said.
The peanut butter frenzy has been catching on as businesses, community members, and church and school groups began peanut butter drives and had collected nearly 1,500 jars early on.
Hughes said peanut butter is one of the most popular items at the food pantry, but it can be pricey.
“Everyone knows the value of peanut butter,” Hughes said, adding that if the food pantry has peanut butter, there is always plenty of donated bread available.
In the summer, many local farmers donate near 27,000 pounds of produce during the season, and some of those products go well with peanut butter.
“Peanut butter makes people feel fuller longer and it is a healthy plant-based food with more protein,” Hughes said.
Donations can be dropped off at the Walworth County Food Pantry, 205 E. Commerce Ct., Elkhorn, Tuesdays and Fridays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the back door.
Hughes said the pantry serves around 400 families each month.
For more information visit walworthcountyfoodpantry.org or call 262-723-4488.
Making the rounds
In addition to the peanut butter collection drive, which is still going on, another event to benefit the pantry will be held this weekend.
On Saturday, April 13, the school resources of Walworth County – with assistance from area police departments and the sheriff’s office, are teaming up for a food drive to benefit the Walworth County Food Pantry.
That day, resource officers will be traveling throughout the county and be at the following locations during the approximate times listed: 8-9:30 a.m., Whitewater Wal-Mart; 10-11:30 a.m., Delavan Piggly Wiggly; 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Walworth Sentry; 1:40-3:15 p.m., Lake Geneva Piggly Wiggly; 3:40-5 p.m., East Troy Piggly Wiggly; 5:15-6:45 p.m., Elkhorn Piggly Wiggly.
Donors are welcome to give money as well as a variety of non-perishable items, including peanut butter.
For more information like and follow the School Resource Officers of Walworth County on Facebook.
