spread <\/em>some positivity.<\/p>\nStarted in 2012 by the UF|IFAS Extension offices in the Florida Panhandle, the Peanut Butter Challenge was created to provide nutritious food to families in need. The COVID-19 pandemic and a series of hurricanes brought hardship to food pantries across Orange County and with it, a dire need for our communities to help one another. And what better way than to get Jiff-y <\/em>with it?<\/p>\nBut of all the non-perishable foods, why peanut butter?<\/p>\n
\u201cPeanut butter is shelf-stable, protein-rich, and versatile,\u201d explained Kevin Camm, County Extension Director of UF|IFAS Extension Orange County. \u201cPlus, since Florida is a leading peanut producer, every donation not only helps families but also highlights our state\u2019s agriculture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Orange County has participated in the Peanut Butter Challenge for years, with 2024 being its most successful year, collecting nearly 4,000 jars of peanut butter, totaling over 5,000 pounds.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s record-breaking success was made possible by the communal effort among businesses, schools, local government, and neighborhood partners. \u201cIt was truly a community effort,\u201d Camm said.\u00a0 \u201cWhen the community takes ownership of the Challenge, the impact grows far beyond what Extension alone could ever accomplish and reminds us of what we can accomplish when we all pitch in together.\u201d<\/p>\n
And you butter<\/em> believe we\u2019re aiming higher this year.<\/p>\nCollected peanut butter will be counted and donated to local food pantries across all commission districts ahead of the holiday season\u2014just another way our team of smooth<\/em> operators bring joy to those in need. \u201cThe beauty of the Peanut Butter Challenge is that when you drop off a jar, you know it\u2019s going to directly benefit a neighbor right here in our community,\u201d said Camm.<\/p>\nFirst time hearing about the challenge? Camm sums it up in a nutshell: <\/em><\/p>\n\u201cThe Peanut Butter Challenge is a fun, statewide food drive where every jar collected helps fight hunger locally and supports Florida farmers, so tossing one extra in your cart makes a real difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donation sites<\/a> are but a hop, Skippy, <\/em>and a jump from all corners of Orange County. And if you\u2019re a goofy goober<\/em>, too, we\u2019ll see you in the peanut butter aisle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s that time of year again where Orange County gets a little nuts… meaning peanuts! Hosted by our partners at UF|IFAS Extension Orange County, the Peanut Butter Challenge is back and we\u2019re ready to spread some positivity. Started in 2012 by the UF|IFAS Extension offices in the Florida Panhandle, the Peanut Butter Challenge was created […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":23076,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-services"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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