When they dip their snacks during an Astros game or make their grandkids a lunchtime sandwich, twenty-two residents and employees of Eagle’s Trace will have a new appreciation for peanut butter. 

On March 23, the group from the Erickson Living retirement community traveled to the Houston Peanut Butter Cannery of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints in Houston.  There, they donated a four-hour shift under the watchful eye of the Church’s experienced staff.  

After receiving a peanut butter production primer, the team went to work.  From unloading the peanuts to placing jars on the conveyor belt to stacking jars on pallets, each volunteer received an appropriate task.

The end result was a boon for local charity: the Eagle’s Trace shift produced 8,640 jars of peanut butter.  The jars are shipped to food banks in Harris and Montgomery Counties and the City of Houston.  Because of its popularity, long shelf life and high protein amount, peanut butter is one of the most requested items at food banks and shelters.  

“Residents of Eagle’s Trace have been volunteering at the Cannery since 2012, and we really enjoy the experience,” stated Ernest Buschhaus, chair of the Eagle’s Trace Community Outreach Committee.  

“We are grateful for the opportunity to make a positive contribution and be good neighbors in Houston,” Mr. Buschhaus said.  “That’s what the work of our resident-led Community Outreach Committee is all about.  We thank the staff at Eagle’s Trace for supporting our projects, and hope to return for another shift at the Cannery in the future.”

More information about the program can be found by visiting http://www.houstonfoodbank.org/donate/lds-peanut-butter-cannery.

About Eagle’s Trace:  Eagle’s Trace is one of nineteen continuing care retirement communities managed by Erickson Living.  Located in Houston, Texas, the scenic 70-acre campus is home to more than 775 residents.  Eagle’s Trace is the ideal greater Houston retirement destination offering a true sense of community, convenience beyond compare and a sensible financial structure.