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UF/IFAS Extension Polk County’s Annual Peanut Butter Challenge

Three children are at a table with peanut butter jars, bread, and apple slices, seemingly making sandwiches.

November 6, 2024

By Jasi Romero

Join the Peanut Butter Challenge: Spread the Love!

Get ready to go nuts for a great cause! The Peanut Butter Challenge is back and and it’s more exciting than ever! Hosted by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University (FAMU) Cooperative Extension, this annual jar collection is all about giving back to our community, just in time for the holidays. This year, donations are due by November 27th!

This friendly competition among counties was conceived as a way to feed hungry families ahead of the holidays in addition to promoting a Florida-grown crop. However, the real winners of this challenge are those in need in your county! To see where you can bring donations, check out the Donation Locations listed below under the “How to Get Involved” section.

This Year’s Exciting Partnership: KidsPACK, Inc. 

Buckets filled with jars of peanut butter.

We’re thrilled to announce that donations will benefit KidsPACK, Inc., an amazing organization providing vital food support for school pantries in Polk County each month. Amy Royal, Program Manager of KidsPACK, says,

Last year, Polk County collected an impressive 702 jars, totaling nearly 1,000 pounds of peanut butter goodness. This year, let’s crush that record! The more jars we collect, the more kids we can help, so let’s work together and show our community some love.

Let’s make this year’s Peanut Butter Challenge the best one yet!

A heartfelt thank you to the Florida Peanut Producers Association and Florida Peanut Federation for their ongoing support. Together, we can help keep our community strong and full!

How to Get Involved:

Ready to make a difference? Here’s how you can help!

  1. To join or partner with Polk County’s collection this year, call (863) 519-1041.
  2. Donate unopened jars of peanut butter at any of the Donation Locations listed below:
  • UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
    1702 S. Holland Parkway, Bartow, FL 33830
  • Winter Haven Public Library
    325 Avenue A NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881
  • Lakeland Public Library Main
    100 Lake Morton Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801
  • Haines City Public Library
    111 N 6th St, Haines City, FL 33844
  • Sheriff’s Operations Center
    1891 Jim Keene Blvd, Winter Haven, FL 33880
  • Any Polk County District Sheriff’s Office:
    • Northwest District: 1045 Wedgewood Estates Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33809
    • Central District: 3635 Avenue G NW, Winter Haven, FL 33880
    • Northeast District: 1100 Dunson Rd, Davenport, FL 33896
    • Southwest District: 4120 US Hwy 98 South, Lakeland, FL 33801
    • Southeast District: 4011 Sgt. Mary Campbell Way, Lake Wales, FL 33859
    • Central County Jail: 2390 Bob Phillips Rd, Bartow, FL 33830
    • South County Jail: 1103 US-98, Frostproof, FL 33843

For More Information visit: go.ufl.edu/pbc.

You can also follow along on social media, at https://www.facebook.com/PolkExtension/.

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