The Division of General Surgery in the Department of Surgery is collecting peanut butter for their second annual charity food drive. Rosemary Mitchell, research coordinator in the Division of General Surgery, is organizing the effort, dubbed Operation: Peanut Butter.

The idea for collecting the comfort food came from a flyer from the charitable organization Northwest Harvest, which pointed out that peanut butter, along with baby food, was one of the most needed items in food banks.

So far, the division had collected an estimated 1,800 pounds of peanut butter as of Dec. 5. The goal is 2,341 pounds, which is the combined weight of all 13 surgeons in the Division of General Surgery. Last year’s total donation was about 1,000 pounds. Several of the doctors have donated their full weight already.

The peanut butter will be donated to Northwest Harvest, which has been fighting hunger in Washington since 1967. The organization also collects and distributes food to 300 hunger programs throughout the state.

The drive ends on Dec. 29. Donations can be made at the main office of the Department of Surgery, BB-487, UW Medical Center. Any brand of peanut butter can be donated. Cash donation will be used to purchase peanut butter.

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