Lower Keys Medical Center Launches Fourth Annual Peanut Butter Drive for Food Pantry

Lower Keys Medical Center kicked off its fourth annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive on March 9, collecting peanut butter and other nut butters for the SOS Foundation's Stock Island Food Pantry through March 25, 2026.

The hospital is targeting 200 jars this year. Donations can be dropped off in the Lower Keys Medical Center main lobby Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The drive focuses specifically on peanut butter because, despite being nutritionally dense and shelf stable, it is one of the least donated items food pantries receive.

"Every year, Lower Keys Medical Center makes it a priority to give back to our community, and Jars of Love is one of our favorite ways to show that we care," said Drew Bigby, chief executive officer of Lower Keys Medical Center. "According to United Way of Collier and the Keys, an estimated 50% of Monroe County residents live in ALICE households (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). Food insecurity can contribute to poor health. SOS Foundation Stock Island Food Pantry and United Way of Collier and the Keys are working to address hunger in our area and we are proud to support their efforts, one jar of peanut butter at a time."

Morgan Tracey-Barber, chief executive officer of SOS Foundation Food Pantry, emphasized how much the annual effort means to the families the pantry serves. "Partnerships like Jars of Love remind us that small acts, even a single jar of peanut butter, can make a big difference and keeping our pantry shelves stocked for local families is vital," she said. "We're so grateful to Lower Keys Medical Center for rallying the community each year to help ensure our children and families have consistent access to food."

The ALICE statistic Bigby cited points to the breadth of food insecurity across Monroe County. Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed households earn above the federal poverty line but still struggle to cover basic costs, a category that United Way estimates captures half of all county residents.

Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24-hour emergency department services, with accreditations from The Joint Commission in both its Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center designations. The Jars of Love drive runs through March 25, with the hospital lobby open for donations six days a week.