Washington Trust Kicks off 15th Annual Peanut Butter Drive

RHODE ISLAND – Since 2001, Washington Trust has collected more than 110 tons, or 220,000 jars of peanut butter as part of an annual Peanut Butter Drive that brings together local organizations, sports teams, businesses, schools and individuals dedicated to helping feed the hungry in Rhode Island. Now in its 15th year, the 2015 Washington Trust Peanut Butter Drive kicks off with a few new partners and a renewed call for Rhode Islanders to help “spread” the word, and make 2015’s drive the biggest collection to date.

But “why peanut butter?” you ask. Each year, peanut butter helps feed tens-of-thousands of people who use food banks in the United States. Just one jar of peanut butter will make 16 sandwiches for a hungry family. Think about that. That means the Washington Trust Peanut Butter Drive has provided more than 3,520,000 sandwiches to hungry families throughout Rhode Island since 2001. Here’s how to donate in 2015…

· The 2015 Washington Trust Peanut Butter Drive kicked off this past Monday, February 16th, at the Providence Bruins home game vs. the Manchester Monarchs. In partnership, Washington Trust and the Providence Bruins have launched the Washington Trust Black & Gold Peanut Butter Battle, a peanut butter collection competition asking fans to donate jars of peanut butter on behalf of Bruins Defenseman Steve Eminger or Forward Colin Stuart. Fans can donate at Bruins home games March 6th, 7th, and 8th as well as at www.PeanutButterBank.com.

· Roger Williams Park Zoo, another partner of the Peanut Butter Drive, is offering one complimentary child’s admission (ages 3-12) to each family that brings a jar of peanut butter to Zoo admissions for donation (one per family, not in combination with other offers) between March 1st-22nd.

· On March 1st, from 12-4 pm, there will be a special Skating With the Stars event to benefit the Washington Peanut Butter Drive at the Washington Trust Community Skating Center in Downtown Westerly. Anyone who brings a jar of peanut butter will be able to skate for free that day (additional cost for skate rentals).

· The Rhode Island Interscholastic League student athletes will be collecting peanut butter at all of their events from February through March. Their peanut butter collection begins Saturday, February 21st, at both the swim state championship held at Brown University and the track and field state championship held at the Providence Career and Technical Academy.

· Additional collection sites are available at all Washington Trust locations through April. Participants can also Donate the Difference by opting for a peanut butter sandwich for lunch and donating what they would have otherwise spent going out to a restaurant. All Donate the Difference donations directly benefit the Rhode Island Food Bank.

For a list of participating peanut butter drop off sites or to donate online, visit peanutbutterbank.com.

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 http://www.washtrust.com.

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