Dallas/Fort Worth, Oct. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) has concluded its 13th Annual Peanut Butter Drive, rallying communities across the region to donate more than $360,000 and approximately 90,800 pounds of peanut butter throughout September. The monthlong campaign, held during Hunger Action Month, continues to be one of NTFB’s most impactful efforts to provide reliable, nutritious food to children and families experiencing food insecurity.
For the fourth year in a row, the drive reached all 12 counties in NTFB’s service area, with cities, schools, faith groups, businesses, and neighborhood organizations joining forces to support the cause. Peanut butter remains one of the most requested items among food pantries because it is shelf-stable, kid-friendly, and rich in protein—making it a vital resource for NTFB’s children’s programs and its network of nearly 500 partner agencies.
Kroger returned as the 2026 Grocery Champion Sponsor, helping elevate awareness and participation across the region. NTFB’s beloved peanut butter mascot also made appearances at schools and community events, energizing supporters of all ages.
During the annual Awards & Celebration on October 13 at NTFB’s Perot Family Campus in Plano, the Food Bank honored standout contributors whose leadership and creativity helped drive this year’s success:
- Top City: City of Plano
- Top City Per Capita: City of Sachse
- Top Corporation: Ryan LLC
- Top School: Centennial Elementary Plano ISD
- Top Faith-Based Organization: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Top Neighborhood Per Capita: Whiffletree V,VI,VII
- Top Neighborhood: Heritage Ranch
- Top Community Group: HungerMitao
- Culture of Philanthropy Award: James Thomas
- Nuttiest Choice Award: City of Rowlett
- Spread the Love Award (Top Marketing Campaign): NiHao
“The Peanut Butter Drive shows what’s possible when a community decides hunger is unacceptable,” said Sarah Burns, Vice President of External Affairs at North Texas Food Bank. “Every jar and every dollar represents someone choosing to stand with the 291,000 children in North Texas who are unsure where their next meal will come from. We’re distributing more food than ever before, and these contributions help us provide nutritious options families can count on. I’m inspired by the generosity we’ve seen this year.”
This year’s campaign was strengthened by a dedicated volunteer committee whose outreach helped broaden the drive’s reach:
- Raj & Anna Asava – HungerMitao
- Justin Bitner – Ryan LLC
- Rick Grady – Collin County Homeless Coalition
- James Huang – NiHao Food Bank Initiative
- Ying Jia – NiHao Food Bank Initiative
- Sangeeta Rai – HungerMitao
- James Thomas – Plano Independent School District
Burns added, “The success of this drive reflects the heart of North Texas, neighbors stepping up for one another. From our volunteer committee and participating cities to Kroger and the State Fair of Texas encouraging donations on opening day, this was truly a community-wide effort.”
To learn more or get involved in next year’s Peanut Butter Drive, visit www.ntfb.org/peanutbutterdrive.
About the North Texas Food Bank
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a leading nonprofit organization that fights hunger and provides children, seniors and families in North Texas access to nutritious food. For over 40 years, we have been at the forefront of hunger relief, committed to ensuring that no one in our community lacks access to healthy food. Our extensive network of 500 food pantries and organizations, volunteers, and donors enables us to deliver more than 141 million meals annually to those in need. Beyond just addressing hunger, we focus on nourishing lives by offering nutrition education, investing in our network partners, innovating solutions to eliminate hunger and advocating for policies that tackle the root causes of food insecurity.
Our dedication to excellence is reflected in our 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, highlighting our strong governance, integrity, and financial stability. As a proud member of Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief network, we are committed to ensuring everyone in North Texas has the nourishment needed to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. For more information, visit www.ntfb.org or connect with us on social media @NorthTexasFoodBank.
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Jeff Smith North Texas Food Bank 469-891-7022 jeff.smith@ntfb.org
