For Immediate Release
Contact: Felicia Martinez, Executive Director All Faiths Pantry
11th Annual Parma Peanut Butter Drive benefits local non-profit All Faiths Pantry
Parma City Council President Sean Patrick Brennan will run a half marathon on December 12th to raise funds in support of the community through the 11th Annual Parma Peanut Butter drive.
Brennan, the founder of the annual Parma Peanut Butter Drive, says “food assistance in our community is needed now more than ever”….. Why a peanut butter drive? Peanut butter is a well-liked, high protein, calorie dense food. It is a staple in many households, including Brennan’s household growing up with a single mom who worked hard to make ends meet. Brennan said. “Looking back, peanut butter was our main source of protein. When I saw peanut butter prices spiking (11 years ago), I called John Visnauskas at All Faiths and asked what he thought about The Parma Peanut Butter Drive.” The rest is history.
All Faiths, a local award-winning non-profit is honored to be a part of the Parma Peanut Butter drive. For 15 years they have been raising awareness about senior food insecurity while delivering nutritious groceries at no cost to qualifying seniors in the Parma and surrounding communities. In 10 years, the drive has raised over 5 tons of peanut butter and thousands of dollars, thanks to the generosity of the community.
Last year due to the pandemic there were no drop off locations for peanut butter, but thanks to the help of Brennan who ran his 100th marathon in honor of the 10th drive, the community raised an amazing $5,000.
On Sunday, December 12th, Brennan will run a half marathon through all nine of Parma’s wards that will begin and end at Zielinski Park. “Whether it is $5 or $1 or more for each mile I plan to run, we welcome whatever folks are able to give,” Brennan said. The hope is to surpass the amount raised last year.
The community is invited to join for a celebration at the finish line from 10 am to 11am. We will celebrate with cookies and hot cocoa and a visit from Santa. Santa will be ready to take photos with you in front of the script Parma sign. All donations are welcome.
This year there will be collection bins at Parma City Hall and the Office Depot on Snow Rd. Executive Director Felicia Martinez explains “We gladly accept jars of peanut butter, but encourage monetary donations because as an agency of the food bank we can purchase peanut butter for far less than the retail cost. Your monetary donation will go much further to support those in need.”
This year’s sponsors include Lamar Advertising, Rumpke Waste & Recycling, Office Depot in Parma, and the Parma Area Chamber of Commerce.
Cash donations may be brought on December 12 to Zielinski Park, or checks can be mailed to All Faiths Pantry, P.O. Box 34239, Parma, Ohio, 44129 (place Parma Peanut Butter Drive in the message). To find out more and to donate visit www.allfaithspantry.org. For questions about the drive or to become a sponsor email Brennan at [email protected] or call 440-885-8091.
The drive will once again run from December 1 through December 31.