Santa Rosa Medical Center Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive 
Collects More than 2,300 Jars for Local Food Organizations

4/1/2025

MILTON, FL - To help fight hunger in the community, and to celebrate National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day on April 2, Santa Rosa Medical Center (SRMC) has donated 2,320 jars of peanut butter (and other nutritious nut/seed butters) to two local food agencies through their third annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive.

This year’s drive benefited two very worthy organizations, FoodRaising Friends, Inc. and Feeding the Gulf Coast. The hospital encouraged community members, as well as its employees, medical staff members, and volunteers to donate the protein packed-food over the last 3 weeks in an effort to fight hunger in the local area.

According to Feeding the Gulf Coast, 1-in-6 individuals in the area struggle to put food on the table. The goal of the Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive is to help support individuals facing food insecurity, which is an important social determinant of health.

“We are so grateful to not only have met our goal of 2,000 jars, but exceed it,” said Michael Nordness, chief executive officer. “The community and our entire staff really showed up for this year’s drive. Improving access to nutritious and shelf-stable food, like peanut butter, helps fulfill our mission to help Santa Rosa County get well and live healthier.”

In 2024, SRMC donated 1,300 jars of peanut butter to Feeding the Gulf Coast and FoodRaising Friends, Inc., organizations who provide meals to families and individuals who struggle with food insecurity. With this year's increase of 1,000 donations, SRMC was able to contribute around 1,150 jars of peanut butter to both entities.

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