Longview wins annual peanut butter drive against Tyler

Longview has won the third annual ‘Spread The Love Peanut Butter Drive,’ a competition between the cities of Longview and Tyler to benefit the East Texas Food Bank. During the September drive, Longview residents donated 8,657 pounds of peanut butter, surpassing Tyler’s contribution of 4,783 pounds.

In total, the initiative collected 13,440 pounds of peanut butter and raised $16,121 in funds. The drive was held in recognition of Hunger Action Month to address food insecurity in East Texas, where approximately one in six adults and one in four children face hunger.

East Texas Food Bank CEO David Emerson noted that peanut butter is a high-demand item for food banks because it is shelf-stable, protein-rich, and child-friendly. Mayor Kristen Ishihara attributed Longview’s success to strong community partnerships involving local schools, banks, and businesses.