Giving back isn’t just about making a donation. It’s about making a difference, however small. In the case of a recent donation to soldiers stationed at Fort Eustis, a few hundred pounds of peanuts is no small gesture.
Whitley’s Peanut Factory and the Boy Scouts of the Stonewall Jackson area council recently teamed up to support local troops through a donation of the nutritious legume. The effort began three years ago when the Boy Scout troops based around the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia and West Virginia partnered with Whitley’s Peanut Factory to create a peanut-selling fundraiser for the organization.
This year, the Boy Scout troops decided they wanted to use the money from the fundraiser to make a donation in the form of peanuts as a way to give back to men and women in uniform. The Boy Scouts, according to a press release, see the donation as much more than “just a peanut.” They see the gift as a way to show support to military families, and offer energy and nutrition to troops as they serve their country, the release said.
The fundraiser generated more than $4,000 in donations, which went to purchase more than 200 pounds of Whitley’s peanuts for the United Service Organization at Fort Eustis.
A Williamsburg and Gloucester staple for more than 30 years, Whitley’s Peanut Factory specializes in producing “home-cooked” Virginia peanuts along with a variety of other nuts and peanut candy confections. Giving back to the community is something that matters to the company, said Vice President of Sales Roger Sams in the press release.
“We have worked with the Stonewall Jackson Area Council for over 3 years and it is nice to see them expand this fundraiser to support the military,” Sams said.