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Pierce County peanut butter drive launched to aid local food banks

UPDATE — This post has been updated to correct that Jif brand peanut butter is NOT produced by unionized employees. The PCCLC is urging donations of any brand of peanut butter, but asks that it be purchased at unionized grocery stores.


TACOMA (Mar. 11, 2014) –It’s on.

Patty Rose, Secretary-Treasurer of the Pierce County Central Labor Council, has announced the 2014 peanut butter drive has been launched, with the goal of beating last year’s record haul of 5,021 jars — more than 8,100 pounds. Held in conjunction with the Letter Carriers’ National Food Drive (which is Saturday, May 10), the PCCLC collects peanut butter each year for the Emergency Food Network to distribute to local food banks.

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Patty Rose, Helen McGovern of the Emergency Food Network, and Vance Lelli with the 2013 haul. (Click to enlarge.)

In 2012, the goal was to collect 500 jars, and by the time donations finished pouring in, PCCLC’s affiliated unions had collected 2,031 jars. Last year’s goal was to top that and the final tally was 5,021 jars. Each jar had a sticker on it saying it was donated by organized labor and by which local union.

One in six people in Pierce County rely on food banks for at least part of their family’s needs, so last year’s remarkable haul of peanut butter was gone within two months. Even though most clients served at food banks have jobs, they don’t earn enough to support themselves or their families. Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein with a good shelf life and is one of the food products that are cost-effective for purchase by the Emergency Food Network for distribution to local food banks.

To help with this year’s drive, you can:

— Bring a jar or more of peanut butter — buy them at a unionized grocery store! — to the PCCLC Delegate Meetings at 7 p.m. on March 12 (tomorrow night!), April 9, and May 14 at 3049 S. 36th St. in Tacoma.

— Ask the members of your local union to bring a jar to your monthly membership meetings in March, April, and May.

— Turn in all peanut butter donations to the PCCLC at 3049 S. 36th St. in Tacoma no later than the May 14 Delegate Meeting.

Which brings us to…

CHECK OUT THE UNION DIFFERENCE in Washington: higher wages, affordable health and dental care, job and retirement security.

FIND OUT HOW TO JOIN TOGETHER with your co-workers to negotiate for better wages, benefits, and a voice at work. Or go ahead and contact a union organizer today!