New Hampshire Ford Dealers Collect 5 Tons Of Peanut Butter

BOW, NH — Ford dealers from around the state and New England teamed up with the manufacturing company as well as the New Hampshire Food Bank and a propane company to help feed hungry children in the state. Dealers in New Hampshire, including Grappone Ford in Bow, Monadnock Ford of Swanzey, Hampton Ford, McFarland Ford in Exeter, and Autofair Ford in Manchester, all spent a number of weeks during the summer collecting peanut butter for children in need as part of their Ford "Focus On Child Hunger" drive. Another organization, Dead River Company, a propane supplier with locations around the state, also collected peanut butter at its Manchester, Bristol, Plymouth and New London offices, to assist with the effort.

At the end of the drive, the companies collected 10,542 lbs. of peanut butter and peanut butter alternatives, more than twice than was collected last year.

Eileen Liponis, the executive director of the New Hampshire Food Bank, thanked the dealers and their customers for helping to provide the more than 5 tons of peanut butter to children in the state.

"The success of this Ford Focus on Child Hunger Peanut Butter Drive is a tremendous example of the impact businesses and the public can have on fighting hunger in New Hampshire," she said. "We cannot thank the Ford Fund enough for this incredible support."

Tom Bouchard, the business development manager for Ford Motor Credit Company, said that the fund and dealers were "gratified by the success" of the program that was making a positive impact in the state.

Got a news tip? Send it to Tony Schinella at tony.schinella@patch.com.

View more videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/tonyschinella.