Monthlong nut butter drive invites the community to fight hunger with protein-rich donations that help nourish local families.
San Diego, CA (Jan. 21, 2026) – This February, the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is inviting San Diegans to Spread the Love and help fight hunger through its inaugural nut butter food drive, running Feb. 1-28.
February is historically one of the San Diego Food Bank’s most challenging months for donations, even as demand for food assistance remains high across the region. Spread the Love was created to help fill that gap while raising awareness about nutrition insecurity and the importance of healthy, protein-rich foods for families.
Spread the Love encourages individuals, schools, workplaces and community groups to donate peanut butter and other nut butters — one of the San Diego Food Bank’s most-requested, kid-friendly and protein-packed foods. Shelf-stable and versatile, a single jar of nut butter can provide more than 16 sandwiches, making it a small donation with a big payoff.
“Food is one of the most tangible ways we can show love for our neighbors,” said Casey Castillo, CEO of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. “Nut butter may seem simple, but it’s a powerful tool to help families stretch their budgets and access the protein they need. Spread the Love is about coming together as a community and making sure our neighbors don’t have to choose between nutrition and necessity.”
Nut butter plays a critical role in the San Diego Food Bank’s nutrition strategy. Because it costs more than many staple foods, this targeted drive helps ensure this high-impact item continues moving through the Food Bank’s network of more than 450 nonprofit partners serving children, families, seniors, veterans and active-duty military throughout San Diego County.
The campaign’s goal is to collect tens of thousands of pounds of nut butter through community participation during the month of February. Community members can help in several ways:
- Donate online, where a $20 donation provides 12 jars of peanut butter or nut butter.
- Host a nut butter drive, either in person or virtually, and rally friends, coworkers, classmates or community members to donate.
- Donate unopened jars of peanut butter or other nut butters at participating drop-off locations across San Diego County.
To learn more about Spread the Love, host a drive or donate, visit: sandiegofoodbank.org/spread-the-love.
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About the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank
Established in 1977, the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. Serving as the countywide food safety net, the Food Bank provides nutritious food to people in need, advocates on behalf of the hungry, and educates the public about hunger-related issues. Through a network of direct service programs and more than 450 nonprofit partners, the Food Bank serves an average of 400,000 people every month. In fiscal year 2025, the organization distributed over 52 million pounds of food — equivalent to more than 43.3 million meals. Learn more at sandiegofoodbank.org and follow us @sdfoodbank.