Washington Trust Collects 4.8 Tons of Peanut Butter for 15th Annual Peanut Butter Drive Benefitting RI Food Pantries

WESTERLY, RI – The Washington Trust Company collected approximately 9,500 pounds, or more than 4.8 tons of peanut butter during the fifteenth annual Washington Trust Peanut Butter Drive to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and local food pantries across the state of Rhode Island. Washington Trust has collected more than 230,000 pounds, or 115 tons of peanut butter since 2001.

“Our annual peanut butter drive has helped feed tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders by providing something as simple and essential as peanut butter,” explained Joseph MarcAurele, Washington Trust Chairman & CEO. “Our commitment to helping our neighbors is one of Washington Trust’s most important, time-honored traditions. At the heart of that commitment is our employees’ dedication to volunteering and giving back to the communities they serve,” adds MarcAurele, who also serves as President of the Board of Directors for the RI Community Food Bank.

Washington Trust employees were responsible for collecting almost one-third, or 3,000 pounds of peanut butter, through dress down days, a Skating with the Stars event at the Washington Trust Community Skating Center, and other bank events. Washington Trust also worked with area businesses, schools and organizations to make this year’s drive a success. CVS Customer Care collected more than 1,800 pounds of peanut butter. The schools who collected the most peanut butter included Burrillville Middle School, RI Philharmonic School and St. Philomena School. Carousel Industries, the Providence Bruins, Servicemaster by Mason and Yawgoo Valley Ski Area also contributed to the peanut butter drive.

Washington Trust donated peanut butter to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank as well as local food pantries including Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP), Helping Hands of Block Island, Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale, Jonnycake Center of Westerly, North Kingstown Food Pantry, Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, Rhode Island Center Assisting those in Need (RI CAN), St. Patrick’s Food Closet and West Bay Community Action.

ABOUT WASHINGTON TRUST
Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is the oldest community bank in the nation, the largest state-chartered bank headquartered in Rhode Island and one of the Northeast’s premier financial services companies. Washington Trust offers a full range of financial services, including commercial banking, small business banking, personal banking and wealth management and trust services through its offices located in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Washington Trust Company is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., (NASDAQ OMX®: WASH). Additional information on Washington Trust and its subsidiaries can be found at www.washtrust.com.

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