When Jimmy Smith first heard of Carele Mayer’s request for donations to help buy peanut butter for End 68 Hours of Hunger, ConVal, he sent out a plea to his network.
Mayer has been collecting money to buy peanut butter by the case from the Harvester Market in Greenfield for years and every so often asks Union Congregational Church Pastor Bob Marrone to put a call out to the parishioners of the Peterborough church. One Sunday, from his home in Florida, Smith heard the ask and wanted to help.
Originally, the goal was to bring in $2,000 but in just 12 days, Smith surpassed that total. So he kept reminding others of the need and by early December, the fundraising endeavor had wracked up more than $5,100. As of last week, the peanut butter drive had collected $8,860 for End 68 Hours.
“I’ve had some give second and third donations,” Smith said. “I’ve had up to $500 and as little as $5.”
While not all that money will go toward the purchase of peanut butter, it will help End 68 Hours buy what they are in most need of.
“$8,000 worth of peanut butter is crazy,” Smith said.
Even though Smith has more than quadrupled his original goal, people can still donate.
“As long as people want to give money I will collect it,” Smith said.
What started out as a whim for the Peterborough-born Smith, turned into more than he could have ever imagined.
“This takes a lot of pressure off people,” he said. “I always say do it for the right reason because you need to learn to give back to the community.”