Washington Trust Collects 5 Tons of Peanut Butter For RI Food Pantries

RHODE ISLAND – The Washington Trust Company collected approximately 10,000 pounds, or more than 5 tons of peanut butter during the fourteenth annual Washington Trust Peanut Butter Drive to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and food pantries across the state of Rhode Island. To date, the Drive has collected more than 100 tons of peanut butter.

“As the largest bank headquartered in Rhode Island, Washington Trust is committed to helping our neighbors,” explained Joseph MarcAurele, Washington Trust Chairman & CEO. “Our Peanut Butter Drive not only continues to help feed Rhode Island families in need, but also puts our Washington Trust volunteers into the community with volunteers from local schools, organizations and businesses as advocates for change,” adds MarcAurele, who also serves as President of the of the Board of Directors for the RI Community Food Bank.

Washington Trust locations across the state worked with area businesses, schools and organizations to make this years Drive a success. This year’s biggest contributor was the CVS Caremark Customer Relations team, which donated one ton of peanut butter, nearly one-fifth of the total amount collected. The schools that collected the most peanut butter included Eden Park School in Cranston, St. Philomena School in Portsmouth, St. Paul School in Cranston and St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket. Among the numerous businesses and organizations contributing, those who collected the most were Roger Williams Park Zoo, Yawgoo Valley Ski Area, Marasco & Nesselbush LLP and The Rotary Club of Providence.

Washington Trust donated peanut butter to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank as well as local food pantries including Comprehensive Community Action, Helping Hands of Block Island, Holy Family Parish’s food pantry, Jonnycake Center of Peacedale, Jonnycake Center of Westerly, North Kingstown Food Pantry, Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, Peacedale Jonnycake Center, WARM Shelter, Welcome House of South County and West Bay Community Action.

“Every year, Washington Trust comes through for us with an important contribution of peanut butter,” said Andrew Schiff, Chief Executive Officer of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. “One third of the people served by our statewide network of food pantries are children under the age of 18, and peanut butter is really essential for this population. It’s a high-protein food that requires no preparation, and it’s something that most children enjoy. We are immensely grateful to Washington Trust for this year’s successful Peanut Butter Drive.”

ABOUT WASHINGTON TRUST

Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is one of New England’s premier financial services companies, providing mortgage banking, commercial banking, small business banking, personal banking, and wealth management and trust services to individuals and institutions 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). Web site address: www.washtrust.com.

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