LOWER KEYS MEDICAL CENTER FIGHTS HUNGER THROUGH ITS JARS OF LOVE PEANUT BUTTER DRIVE

Drive collects 175 jars for SOS Foundation Stock Island Food Pantr

(L-R): Rosanna Mullen, LKMC; Sara Phillips, LKMC; Melissa Robinson, LKMC; Greg Repetti, LKMC; Andrea Garduno, AmeriCorps VISTA/SOS; Erin Jacobson, SOS Foundation; Ari Kabat, AmeriCorps VISTA/SOS; Cassie Concepcion, LKMC; Andrea Hesse, LKMC; Isaac Heller, LKMC; and Zachary Hartman, LKMC.

KEY WEST, Fla. – Lower Keys Medical Center employees participated in the third annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive through the month of March, collecting 175 jars of peanut butter for the SOS Foundation Stock Island Food Pantry.
 
In Monroe County, the average cost of a meal is $5.29, compared to $3.99 as a national average. The SOS Foundation’s mission is to foster a healthier community by increasing equitable food access through food distribution, food recovery, and nutrition education. They distributed more than 1.6 million pounds of food in 2024.
 
“Hunger has a significant impact on overall physical and mental health and wellbeing and is a contributing factor to chronic conditions,” said Greg Repetti, interim chief executive officer at Lower Keys Medical Center. “Thank you to the employees and community members who donated to the drive.”
 
Morgan Tracey, executive director of SOS Foundation said, “In 2024, families visited our Stock Island Food Pantry 11,922 times seeking food assistance. Peanut butter is a favorite for school lunches and snacks, but we never have enough. The Jars of Love drive is a vital event we eagerly anticipate each year, as it helps meet this critical need for our clients.”
 
The Jars of Love were collected between March 3rd and 24th and donated to the SOS Foundation Stock Island Food Pantry on March 26th, leading up to National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day, April 2nd.
 
About Lower Keys Medical Center
Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24 hour emergency department services. Accreditations include The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center, and American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center.