Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

Yum! Bank of North Georgia Hosts Back-to-School PB&J Food Drive Food Drive will be held from July 20-31 and will benefit 27 food pantries!

Bank of North Georgia is very much at the heart of community life in North Georgia, supporting those institutions and programs that make our local communities desirable places to live and work. Recognizing that there is an urgent need for food that offers good nutrition to children, the bank is once again focusing on a staple lunchtime classic – peanut butter and jelly – in preparation for the busy school year that will kick off in August throughout metro Atlanta.

Last year, Bank of North Georgia collected 1,804 jars at 2,627 pounds, which is over one ton of PB&J. That is enough to make more than 21,016 sandwiches for children in metro Atlanta (with approximately four ounces spread on each sandwich). Creamy peanut butter was the clear winner over crunchy and the bank received more grape jelly than any other flavor.

“Our team members are committed to developing programs that support and serve the community in the best possible ways. Sometimes it’s volunteering time to organizations in need or donating money for a worthwhile cause. Quite often it’s simply lending our banking expertise. This summer, we believe it’s taking the time to partner with our local food banks and collect food for the children in our communities that need it most,” said Kessel Stelling, President and CEO of Bank of North Georgia.

According to Barbara S. Duffy, Executive Director of North Fulton Community Charities, “The continued economic crisis has caused more and more local families to reach out to local food banks for assistance. At North Fulton Community Charities food requests have increased a frightening 32% this year. NFCC is distributing food to over 100 families every day and our wonderful volunteers are processing over 7 tons of food each week. Our donations have been good, but the need is through the roof. Peanut butter and jelly is a childhood staple and one of the most requested food items. We appreciate Bank of North Georgia's assistance in getting the word out about this need and helping fill each child's lunchbox with healthy food.”

Local residents, customers and friends of Bank of North Georgia are encouraged to visit any of our 45 branches and drop off as much peanut butter and jelly as they can carry. The banking team would love to see both creamy and crunchy varieties of peanut butter and every imaginable flavor of jelly to appeal to every child in metro Atlanta.

Local Food Bank Partners
Food Banks/Pantries were selected based on their proximity to Bank of North Georgia’s bank offices. Partners include North Fulton Community Charities, Community Action Center, Fayette Samaritans, The Real Life Crisis Center, The Center for Family Resources, MUST Ministries (Marietta and Canton), Atlanta Union Mission, The Salvation Army (Covington and Carrollton), Community Food Pantry, Rockdale Emergency Relief, Papa’s Pantry, The Place of Forsyth, North Gwinnett Co-op, Norcross Cooperative Ministry, Tucker First Food Pantry, Community Assistance Resources & Emergency Services (CARES, Inc.), Helping in His Name Ministries, Camp and Christian Aid Society, Helping Hands of Paulding, Inc., Carroll County Soup Kitchen, Carroll County Foster Parent Association, Villa Rica Community Food, Bowden Area United Christian Ministries, Bremen Food & Clothing, and the Buchanan Health Department.

Questions: For more information visit www.bankofnorthgeorgia.com.