The first to schedule a gathering event after Nov. 1, Newfane-based American Legion Post 873 is honored to officially kick off the 2024 Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive.
Today and Sunday the post is collecting jars of peanut butter, jelly and marshmallow spread at Tops Market in Newfane; and appointed members will then take the loot to PB&J Drive headquarters in Lockport. The mail typically delivers about 500 pounds of good stuff in a few days each year, Legion member Ricci Hoffer said.
The 17th annual PB&J Drive kicked off Friday when donation bins were placed at 98 locations throughout Niagara County and Orleans and Erie counties. The bins will be in place until December 10, ready to be filled and refilled.
Fifty-seven food banks in Western New York, extending into the South, are benefiting from the effort, said lead volunteer Liz Allore, who handles logistics.
A Hand Up Inc. is the drive’s nonprofit “umbrella” with headquarters in the former Second Presbyterian Church on Van Buren Street. The effort is run by 12 core volunteers, approximately 30 volunteer drivers and an ever-changing crew of occasional helpers who work at collection points, delivering and collecting bins, sorting, boxing and delivering stock to pantries and/or warehouses. manages inventory.
Although the formal PB&J Drive only lasts about six weeks, ideally there is enough transportation to keep the distribution of good stuff going all year long, Allore said. The pantries receive 25 jars of peanut butter and 25 jars of jelly (or fluff) at a time, some every month, some every other month or a few times a year, depending on their needs. Organizers try to keep enough supplies on hand at headquarters to respond to an emergency at any time, she said.
The PB&J Drive’s operation today is much the same as it was when Pete Robinson organized a two-week effort to “spread the love” in 2008. The number of staging areas and reception boxes may vary from year to year, but the way it was done and it hasn’t changed because “it works,” Allore said. “It doesn’t take much effort.”
There is no numerical target for the annual ride. Instead, there’s usually a friendly competition between PB&J collectors – rival companies, perhaps, or classrooms – or some sort of challenge to see who can collect the most jars. While talking about the 2024 ride on WLVL-AM radio earlier this week, Robinson promised he would do the Swim for Sight in Olcott in the winter of 2025 if the radio station and Gasport-based Boy Scout Troop 18 combined to reach 2,000 would collect pots.
“I don’t want to, don’t get me wrong,” Robinson joked, “but for 2,000 pots I’ll jump in the lake.”
2024 PB&J Drive events and more information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/peanutbutterandjellydrive/
As of Friday, these are the locations where a donation box will be available:
ALBION: Hoag Library
APPLETON: The winery at Marjim Manor
BUFFALO: KEDPlasma, safe storage
GASPORT: East Avenue Eclectics, Hartland Volunteer Fire Company
GETZVILLE: CITI
BIG ISLAND: Pizza Amore
KENMORE: Chenez’s Popcorn
LEWISTON: Deal Realty, DiCamillo’s, Tim Hortons (790 Center St.)
LOCKPORT: (city) 9 Regent Street, Chenez’s Popcorn, The Dale Association, First Presbyterian Church, Frames By Ames, Gould’s Flowers and Gifts, Great Lakes Asset Solutions, Herbal Magick, Imagine That, Lake Effect Ice Cream, LCTV, Lockport Board of Education, Lockport Rehab and Healthcare, Navy Marine Club, Papa Leo’s Pizzeria, Tom’s Diner, Windsor Village, WLVL, YWCA; (city) Advantage Physical Therapy, Allie Brandts Bowling Alley, Body Mechanix Physical Therapy, Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union (5810 S. Transit Road and 6485 S. Transit Road), Cornerstone Veterinary Clinic, Countryside Veterinary Clinic, Edward Jones Financial – John Gibson, Evans Bank, GM (UAW), Heinrich Chevrolet, Lockport Schools (through November 20), Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, Onstage Dance Studio, Ridge Road Express, Ridgewood Bible Church, Starpoint School District; T&K Martial Arts, Warrens Corners Methodist Church, Wrights Corners Volunteer Fire Company (November 9 and November 16 only), 9/11 and 11/16 only), Lockport Family YMCA
LYNDONVILLE: Lyndonville Volunteer Fire Company
MEDINA: Among the vines
MIDDLEPORT: Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union
NEWFANE: 2662 Van Horn Avenue (Lower), Newfane Elementary School, Newfane Public Library, Ontario Shores Federal Credit Union
NIAGARA FALLS: Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union, Encompass Niagara, GHD, Niagara SPCA, Papa Leo’s Pizzeria, Tim Hortons (2720 Military Road, 4700 Military Road, 8500 Niagara Falls Boulevard, 2248 Niagara Road, 3024 Pine Avenue and 6021 Porter Road), Viola’s basement
NORTH TONAWANDA: City Hall, Confer Plastics, Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union, Granto’s Barbershop, Pizza Amore, secure storage, Shannon Global, Wheatfield Community Center, Woodcock Brothers Brewing Company
PENDLETON: Craft Coffee House, City Hall, Trinity Salon, Pendleton Center United Methodist Church
RANSOMVILLE: Kiddie Corner Mission
ROYALTON: City Hall
SANBORN: Hoover Dairy, Orleans/Niagara BOCES/Niagara Academy, Tim Hortons
TONAWANDA: 337 Forbes Avenue
WHEATFIELD: Dental care workers, town hall
WILLIAMSVILLE: The hospitable animal
WILSON: The Cookie Cottage of WNY, Wilson Brew Company, Woodcock Brothers Brewing Company
WOLCOTTSVILLE: St. Michael’s Lutheran Church and Kindergarten
