Copperas Cove doubles 2022 Peanut Butter Bowl numbers
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
The numbers are in for the 2023 Peanut Butter Bowl, and Copperas Cove more than doubled its collection from 2022.
A grand total of 8,207 jars of peanut butter were collected throughout the city from August 1 through August 26. Final count for 2022 was 4,106 jars.
Coach Donald Buckram Jr. was beyond excited about the outcome for 2023.
“This was a huge sign of what big things can be done in a small community. When we stick together, we are better together,” he said.
Buckram pointed to the community getting behind the effort.
“We were able to include over 40 different entities to help feed anyone in need of food. The Peanut Butter Bowl has been a blessing to this city and it shows how intertwined we can be when we have a common goal!” he said. “We are very proud that so many different people were interested in helping out the cause of fighting hunger and it’s a fact that when we feed people in need, we all win – which is the Peanut Butter Bowl.”
The late Joe Lombardi was a fan of the Peanut Butter Bowl and campaigned on its behalf last August. This year his wife, Sherry Hoffpauir, took up the torch where he left off. She had an initial goal of collecting 45 jars to represent Joe’s 45 years in broadcasting.
Hoffpauir collected nearly 10 times of her initial goal and ended up with 425 jars filling up her living room couch.
A dozen jars came from some of Lombardi’s fans in honor of “the 12th man”, and also with a special note from Susan and Clint Bond, and Mike Stephens, that sta
The Peanut Butter Bowl began in 2016 with two schools in San Antonio and grew to what it is today, with more than 70 football teams in Texas school districts.
The peanut butter will be distributed locally by My Brother’s House Food Pantry and by Baptist Benevolence in Copperas Cove. Collection sites in Copperas Cove included Copperas Cove ISD District Service & Training Center. Applebee’s. Little Blessings 4D Ultrasound, Educators Credit Union. Chick-Fil-A, Keith Ace Hardware. Yong’s Oriental Kitchen., Bill French Jewelers, Cove Theater, Herb & Earnie’s, Nonpareil Barbershop, Monty’s, Grace United Methodist Church, and Ira Brand Allstate Insurance.