Thousands of pounds of peanut butter were collected by local Five Star Dealerships in the month of May, which was transported to Coastal Harvest on Wednesday to help feed local families in need.

“Peanut butter is the perfect staple for families. It fits in with our modern lifestyle and is great for breakfast, lunch or as a snack. Kids love it,” said Rich Hartman, owner of Five Star Dealerships.

Five states participate annually in the Ford Focus on Hunger peanut butter drive. Most Ford dealerships collect peanut butter for a week, but Hartman extended it to a month long and had all his Five Star dealerships participate.

“It’s a great program, but we wanted to do more,” said Hartman. “We decided to extend the drive for the entire month and include all our stores.”

Coastal Harvest Executive Director Angela Burton went to Five Star Ford to get the jars from the dealership’s General Manager Damon Gleason. Burton said the drive brought in 4,119 pounds of peanut butter, which will be distributed to food banks across Grays Harbor and Pacific counties.

During the drive, customers could donate a jar of peanut butter or purchase one at the dealership to be donated. Gleason said the turnout was excellent, drawing in donations from people who weren’t even considering purchasing a vehicle. Five Star matched all donations and contributed a case of peanut butter for every new vehicle sold during the peanut butter drive.

“Our commitment to helping our neighbors is one of Five Star’s most important, time-honored traditions,” said Hartman. “At the heart of that commitment is our belief in giving back to the communities that support us.”