Peanut industry raising peanut butter donations for Haitian earthquake victims

LUBBOCK, Texas –The Texas Peanut Producers Board and several other organizations in the peanut industry are joining efforts to ship peanut butter to the desperate earthquake victims in Haiti.
“Peanut Butter for Haiti” began last Friday when an offer to spearhead the effort came from Early County 2055, a 501c3 non-profit organization located in the heart of peanut country in Blakely, Ga.

Early County 2055 has donated $5,000 to the cause, which was quickly matched by Birdsong Peanuts, a Virginia-based peanut shelling company that also has locations in Blakely, Ga., Brownfield, Texas, and Alabama. Currently, over $60,000 has been raised for the purchase of peanut butter to supply the Haitian earthquake victims.
“The peanut industry is trying to raise enough cash donations to purchase three truckloads (126,000 pounds) of peanut butter to send to Haiti,” said Shelly Nutt, Texas Peanut Producers Board executive director. “This is a well-organized and trustworthy effort from an industry that is no stranger to helping those in need.”
In West Texas, Lamesa community members raised $3,500 from local businesses and individuals to donate to the peanut butter purchase in just one day. They hope to double that figure before the end of the week.
“Peanut Butter for Haiti” has already delivered its first truckload of peanut butter to “Food for the Poor”, a four-star rated charity that is consolidating food and water at their warehouse near Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., to send to their ground operations in Haiti. The peanut butter effort has also been working with other reputable charities to ensure all peanut butter donations are placed in the hands of Haitians.
Check donations can be mailed to the Texas Peanut Producers Board office at 4205 N. Interstate 27, Lubbock, Texas 79403. Checks must be made out to “Early County 2055” in order for the donation to be converted into peanut butter. Please designate "pnb to Haiti" in lower left hand corner of your check. All donations are tax-deductible, and all donors will receive a receipt from Early County 2055.
“This is an easy and secure way for Texans to help the people of Haiti by providing them with a nutritious, non-perishable food item that is high in protein,” Nutt said. “I’m so proud to work in an industry that is always so willing to help others who are in need, especially when we’re producing a product that these people so desperately need.”
For more information, contact the Texas Peanut Producers Board at 800-734-0086 .
The Texas Peanut Producers Board is a state-wide board funded by a $2 per ton voluntary check-off program. For more information, contact Lindsay West Kennedy, TPPB communications director, at lindsay@texaspeanutboard.com or call 1-800-734-0086.