Peanut butter drive in Mystic today Mystic

Mystic - Teddy Bearskins in Olde Mistick Village is again conducting a peanut butter drive to benefit the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center food pantry.

The drive first began last year when the neighborhood center lost one of its sources of peanut butter, a periodic allocation through the Connecticut Nutritional Assistance Program that allowed the center to buy peanut butter from the Connecticut Food Bank.

With peanut butter a popular and important staple for the food pantry, and prices remaining high at about $3.50 a jar, keeping enough of it on hand to meet the needs of those who use the pantry is a continuing challenge.

With large crowds again expected for today's annual Cabin Fever Festival at the village, Teddy Bearkskins manager Rachael Seery-Hersant said she hopes people will drop of peanut butter at the store during the event.

Those who do will receive a raffle ticket to a drawing in which a teddy bear and a $50 gift certificate will be given away. The drive will continue until St. Patrick's Day.

Donations can be dropped off at Teddy Bearskins Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.