CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Fire Department has a new vehicle in its fleet following a local automobile dealer’s donation.

On Dec. 21, Hub City Ford of Crestview donated $7,500 to the Crestview Fire Department. This donation aided the department’s purchase of a 2017 Ford Expedition.

The red vehicle appeared in the Crestview Christmas Parade, which was held Dec. 2 in downtown Crestview.

"Hub City Ford is proud to support the hardworking men and women of the Crestview Fire Department," a media release for the company states.

"We at Hub City Ford are dedicated to supporting the needs of our community," Chris Daggs, the auto dealer’s general manager, said.

"This is our way of giving back to ‘family.’"

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: ‘Our way of giving back’

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Public Library’s next monthly open-mic night for poets and musicians to read, perform, improvise and play together is Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m.

This month's poetry topic is, "Every Word is a Bird We Teach to Sing."

Admittance is free, and everyone is welcome, even if you don't write poetry or play music.

Arrive at 6 p.m. for conversation and snacks; the poetry starts at 6:30 p.m.

The Robert L.F. Sikes Crestview Public Library is located at 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

Contact Esther at the library 682-4432 (or email ehurwitz@okaloosa.lib.fl.us).

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Library sets next open-mic poetry night

As the year draws to a close, it’s a good time to review your progress toward your financial goals. But on what areas should you focus your attention?

Of course, you may immediately think about whether your investments have done well.

When evaluating the performance of their investments for a given year, many people mistakenly think their portfolios should have done just as well as a common market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500. But the S&P 500 is essentially a measure of large-company, domestic stocks, and your portfolio probably doesn’t look like that — nor should it, because it’s important to own an investment mix that aligns with your goals, risk tolerance and return objectives.

It’s this return objective that you should evaluate over time — not the return of an arbitrary benchmark that isn’t personalized to your goals and risk tolerance.

Your return objective will likely evolve. If you are starting out in your career, you may need your portfolio to be oriented primarily toward growth, which means it may need to be more heavily weighted toward stocks. But if you are retiring in a few years, you may need a more balanced allocation between stocks and bonds, which can address your needs for growth and income.

So, assuming you have created a long-term investment strategy that has a target rate of return for each year, you can review your progress accordingly. If you matched or exceeded that rate this past year, you’re staying on track, but if your return fell short of your desired target, you may need to make some changes. Before doing so, though, you need to understand just why your return was lower than anticipated.

For example, if you owned some stocks that underperformed due to unusual circumstances — and even events such as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma can affect the stock prices of some companies — you may not need to be overly concerned, especially if the fundamentals of the stocks are still sound. On the other hand, if you own some investments that have underperformed for several years, you may need to consider selling them and using the proceeds to explore new investment opportunities.

Investment performance isn’t the only thing you should consider when looking at your financial picture over this past year.

What changed in your life? Did you welcome a new child to your family? If so, you may need to respond by increasing your life insurance coverage or opening a college savings account.

Did you or your spouse change jobs? You may now have access to a new employer-sponsored retirement account, such as a 401(k), so you’ll need to decide how much money to put into the various investments within this plan.

And one change certainly happened this past year: You moved one year closer to retirement. By itself, this may cause you to re-evaluate how much risk you’re willing to tolerate in your investment portfolio, especially if you are within a few years of your planned retirement.

Whether it is the performance of your portfolio or changes in your life, you will find that you always have some reasons to look back at your investment and financial strategies for one year — and to look ahead at moves you can make for the next.

This article was written by Edward Jones on behalf of your Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Time to review your investment strategy for the year

UPCOMING

DOGWOOD GARDEN CLUB: 10:30 a.m. first Mondays through May 7, 2018. Call President Ruth Herington, 683-0839, for non-listed locations at members' homes.

•Jan. 8, member's home, "Seeds on Ice."

•Feb. 5, Sonshine Studios, 426 James Lee Blvd., Crestview, "Fairy Gardens."

•March 5, member's home, "Shapes and Shadows in the Garden."

•April 2, member's home, "Wacky Gardening Secrets"

•May 7, member's home, salad luncheon. Bring one to share. 

GENEALOGY GROUP FORMING: 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 6, Fort Walton Beach Public Library. This will be an organizational meeting followed by open forum. Experienced members of the Genealogical Society of Okaloosa County are forming a free Genealogy Special Interest Group. The group is dedicated to helping new and experienced genealogists advance their research and explore genealogy-related subjects. The group will then offer individual guidance. Email GSOCGSIG@gmail.com for details.

RECURRING　

MONDAYS 

YOUTH NIGHT: 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays, Convergence Coffeehouse, 498 Wilson St. N. Visitors may enjoy free refreshments, play games, watch old movies, or fellowship.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: 8 p.m. Mondays, the clubhouse at 704 Robinson St., Crestview, for beginners and newcomers. Details: Jerry, 830-6218. www.fwb-area-aa.org.

DOGWOOD GARDEN CLUB: 10:30 a.m. first Mondays, September through May, location to be announced. Details: 683-0839.

COUNTRY PATCHERS QUILT GUILD: 9:30 a.m. second Mondays, Antioch Baptist Church, 4824 Antioch Road, Crestview. Yearly membership: $20.

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS: 7 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, Mt. Ewell Lodge 131, U.S. Highway 198, Baker.

HELP OTHER PEOPLE EFFECTIVELY: 6 p.m. third Mondays at Community of Christ, Crestview.

COUNTRY PATCHERS QUILT GUILD: 9:30 a.m. fourth Mondays, Antioch Baptist Church, 4824 Antioch Road, Crestview. Sit-n-sew and workshop meeting.

THE OKALOOSA COUNTY COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: fourth Mondays. Details: info@occsw.org.

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS: 7 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, Mount Ewell Lodge 131, U.S. Highway 198, Baker.

TUESDAYS 

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY:

●8 a.m. Tuesdays at First Baptist Church of Garden City, 3140 Haskell-Langley Road, Crestview. Details: Mary Cole, 683-1899.

●5 p.m. weigh-in; meeting starts from 5:25-5:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church fellowship hall, 599 Eighth Ave., Crestview. Brooke Bratton, 225-8197. www.TOPS.org.

SENIORS VS. CRIME: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, except holidays, 296 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite 8, Crestview. Call 306-3176 to report incidents. okaloosacountysvc@yahoo.com.

STORY TIME: 10:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive. Children ages 3 to 5 can enjoy stories and activities, and make a simple craft.

CRESTVIEW KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BINGO: Quarterly games 4:30-6 p.m.; regular games 6-9 p.m. every Tuesday at 701 James Lee Blvd., Crestview.

BAKER GARDEN CLUB: 10 a.m. first Tuesdays September through May at different locations. Liz Davis, 537-4512.

OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP: 1 p.m. first Tuesdays, Wellness Center at Twin Cities Hospital, Niceville. A Registered Nurse is present, and meetings include details of specialty care and product innovations that may be helpful. Details: 389-7071.

CARVER-HILL MEMORIAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY: 5:30 p.m. first Tuesdays, Allen Park, 895 McClelland St., Crestview.

OPEN MIC POETRY AT THE LIBRARY: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays, Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Free event. Esther Hurwitz, 682-4432 or ehurwitz@okaloosa.lib.fl.us; Rick Sanders, 585-6399. Read poetry or play music. http://cvwlibrary.tumblr.com/.

SHOAL RIVER REPUBLICAN CLUB: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays of each month at Hideaway Pizza in downtown Crestview. Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

CRESTVIEW TOASTMASTERS: 6-7 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays, Greater Federation of Women's Club building, 150 Woodlawn Drive, Crestview. Visitors are welcome. Details: Kathy Morrow, 974-3662.

AMERICAN LEGION POST 395: 5:30 p.m. third Tuesdays, Carver-Hill Museum, 895 S. McClelland St., Crestview. Cmdr. Raymond Nelson, 420-0706.

NORTH OKALOOSA PATRIOTS: 6:30 p.m. third Tuesdays, 150 N. Woodlawn Blvd., Crestview. www.panhandlepatriots.com.

WEDNESDAYS

CRESTVIEW KIWANIS CLUB: 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays, Samuel's Roadhouse, 114 John King Road, Crestview.

KNITTING GROUP: 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Casbah Coffee Company, 196 Pine Ave. W, Crestview.

PANHANDLE SADDLE CLUB: 6 p.m. first Wednesdays, David’s Catfish House, 1296 N. Ferdon Blvd. Crestview. Includes socializing, dinner and a meeting. November topic: how to keep your horse healthy. Details: Donna Curry, 830-6403 or donna@embarqmail.com.

SONS OF ITALY, CRESTVIEW CHAPTER 2865: 6 p.m. third Wednesdays, Foxwood Country Club, Antioch Road. All people of American-Italian heritage may join. Group president Thomas Hughes, 682-3597, thomasjhughessr@hotmail.com.

THURSDAYS

GRIEFSHARE SUPPORT GROUP: 10 a.m. Thursdays, Crosspoint, in portable 2, 2250 PJ Adams Parkway, Crestview. For people grieving the death of a loved one or other losses. 678-4411 extension 109.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS: 10-11 a.m. Thursdays, 704 E. Robinson Ave., Crestview. 689-1842.

SENIORS VS. CRIME: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, except holidays, 296 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite 8, Crestview. Call 306-3176 or email okaloosacountysvc@yahoo.com to report incidents.

CRESTVIEW AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MONTHLY BREAKFAST MEETING: 7 a.m. first Thursdays, Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

CRESTVIEW LIONS CLUB: 5:15 p.m. every first and third Thursday, Samuel's Roadhouse, 114 John King Road. Details: BJ Thomhave at Foxwood Country Club, 682-2012.

CONCERNED CITIZENS OF CRESTVIEW: 5:30 p.m. first Thursdays, Allen Park, 895 McClelland St., Crestview.

FLYING NEEDLES QUILT GUILD: 9:30 a.m. second Thursdays at Niceville Church of Christ. Visitors and quilters are welcome.

CRESTVIEW PHOTO CLUB: 6:30-8:30 p.m. first Thursdays, Northwest Florida State College Robert L.F. Sikes Education Center, room 306, 805 U.S. Highway 90 E., Crestview.

NORTH OKALOOSA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Live Oak Baptist Church, 4565 Live Oak Church Road, Crestview. Call 398-7524 for details.

MAINSTREET CRESTVIEW ASSOCIATION: 8 a.m. third Thursdays, FAMU College of Pharmacy in downtown Crestview. Group improves and promotes Main Street and Crestview Community Redevelopment Agency businesses.

CRESTVIEW EXCHANGE CLUB: fourth Thursdays, Covenant Hospice, Crestview. Sharlene Cox, 682-6824.

FRIDAYS 

STEAK NIGHT: 6 p.m. first Fridays. American Legion Post 75, 898 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. Cost: $15 per person; includes T-bone steak, baked potato, salad, bread and dessert. 689-3195.

SATURDAYS

TEEN WII: 2-4 p.m. Fridays, Crestview library, 1445 Commerce Drive. Wii playing for students in sixth through 12th grades.

ADULT/FAMILY NIGHT: 6-9 p.m. Saturdays, Convergence Coffeehouse, 498 Wilson St. N. Visitors may enjoy free refreshments, play games, watch old movies, or just fellowship.

KARAOKE: 8 p.m. Saturdays, American Legion Post 75, 898 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. 689-3195.

READ TO DOZER: 10-11 a.m. first Saturdays, Crestview library, 1445 Commerce Drive. For children ages 4 and up.

BOBBIN LACE GROUP: 11 a.m. first Saturdays, Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. Anyone may attend to inquire about the craft. 678-2615.

GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION: 9 a.m. to eat and 10 a.m. meeting third Saturdays of the month, Ryan's restaurant, Crestview. Dwayne Hopkins, 217-1001. All motorcyclists are welcome.

VFW HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT: 12 p.m. third Saturdays, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5450, 2240 W. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. Lynn Mobley, 682-5552.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County clubs and organizations

CRESTVIEW — Upcoming North Okaloosa County events and surrounding area activities are as follows.

WASTE PRO HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: Residential waste collection will be on Dec. 28. Waste Pro will be closed Jan. 1, 2018 in observance of New Year's Day. Residential waste collection will be on Jan. 4. Recycling for Monday customers will be picked up on Jan. 2.

OKALOOSA COUNTY ELECTION OFFICES CLOSED: The Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections offices' regular business hours will resume Wednesday, Dec. 27, at 8 a.m. The Shalimar branch office of the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections will be closed Friday, Dec. 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a retirement celebration. Election Headquarters located in Crestview will remain open during normal operating hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

HOLIDAY CLOSURE: The Okaloosa County Commission Administrative Offices will re-open for business as usual on Wednesday, Dec. 27. The offices will also be closed in observance of New Year’s Day on Jan. 1, and will reopen on Jan. 2.

OKALOOSA COUNTY COMMISSION: Since the New Years’ Eve three-day weekend leads directly into the first Tuesday of the month, where the regular Board of County Commission meeting ordinarily falls, in order to give county staff an opportunity to prepare for the meeting, the board has elected to push that meeting back one day, until Wednesday, Jan. 3.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

BLACKMAN FIRE DISTRICT BOARD: 7 p.m. first Mondays, 1850 U.S. Highway 2, Baker.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

CRESTVIEW HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD: 5:15 p.m. third Mondays, 371 Hickory Ave. W, Crestview. Open to the public.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

MILLIGAN WATER SYSTEM BOARD: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays, 5340 U.S. Highway 4.

BAKER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays in the Baker Area Public Safety Building, 1375 19th St.

REP. JAYER WILLIAMSON OFFICE HOURS: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. first and third Thursdays, Okaloosa County Extension office, 3098 Airport Road, Crestview. Call 995-3698 for an appointment.

LAUREL HILL CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, City Hall. 

DORCAS FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, 5232 Deer Springs Drive, Crestview, off Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90, Holt.

ALMARANTE VOLUNTEER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Almarante Fire Station, 3710 Old California Road, Laurel Hill.

OKALOOSA-WALTON NORTH OKALOOSA FIRE DISTRICT: 6 p.m. third Thursdays, fire station 82, 5549 John Givens Road, Crestview.

HOLT FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 6:30 p.m. third Thursdays, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station.

LAUREL HILL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m., second Fridays, in Laurel Hill City Hall's fire department office.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CRESTVIEW AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENTS: for chamber members and their employees. Details: 682-3212 or info@crestviewchamber.com. http://www.crestviewchamber.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What's happening in North Okaloosa County

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Brad and Barry Klinge, of Everyday Paranormal, will headline the 2018 Florida Chautauqua Assembly.

The Klinge Brothers will help kick off the Chautauqua with their presentation to those attending on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at Walton High School. Four-day all-inclusive passports for the entire event are on sale now for $120. Tickets for the Klinge Brothers presentation will go on sale Jan. 1 for $15 each.

The Klinge Brothers originally stormed onto the global paranormal scene with "Ghost Lab," a weekly American television series that premiered Oct. 6, 2009 on the Discovery Channel.

Produced by Paper Route Productions and Go Go Luckey Entertainment, the program is narrated by Mike Rowe. It follows ghost-hunting brothers Brad and Barry Klinge, who founded Everyday Paranormal in October 2007.

It still airs in syndication around the world. The Everyday Paranormal team still actively investigates claims of hauntings or other unexplained phenomena.

The Klinge Brothers will present how they conduct their investigations, discuss past investigations and provide proof of the paranormal activity.

Tickets and passports to the 2018 Florida Chautauqua Assembly are available through the event’s webpage, www.floridachautauquaassembly.org, or at 1290 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs.

Four-day all-inclusive passports for the entire event are on sale now for $120. Tickets for the Klinge Brothers presentation will go on sale Jan. 1 for $15 each.

Email floridashistoricchautauqua@gmail.com for more information.

WANT TO GO?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida Chautauqua Assembly to feature paranormal investigators

[Monday] is the beginning of a new year. And I have an idea for a New Year’s resolution you might want to try. It provides outdoor exercise, gives you a sense of accomplishment, it is fun for the whole family and it might save you a little money.

Vegetable gardening can be an excellent activity to try in 2018. For the beginner who doesn’t know the difference between turnips and tulips or for the gardener who grows [everything from] asparagus to zucchini, there’s always something new to learn from the experience.

For the young gardener, there are valuable lessons. Children can learn that what is sown will be reaped. They can learn about competition and that not all benefits from work come in the form of money. They can learn about sharing and teamwork. They also may learn the feeling of accomplishment and learn to deal with disappointment.

There is much to learn about science in the backyard garden. A child can experience first-hand where food comes from. They can discover the world of insects and find out that some insects are beneficial. And hopefully they will learn to care for the environment along with learning a skill that can be shared with their children.

For the experienced gardener who is growing tired of gardening, try something new.

Chinese cabbage is something that you should try. It is easy to grow and tastes delicious raw or cooked. You could try various herbs in the garden such as lemon-balm, dill or chocolate mint. Sometimes color in the garden will help offer a change. Adding color to the garden is easy with annuals like marigolds, nasturtiums or ornamental kale.

For whatever reason you decide to garden, now is the time to begin planning.

First, choose a sunny location close to a water source. A location near the house will make it easier to care for the garden and harvest the vegetables.

Second, have your soil tested. Soil testing takes the guesswork out of determining the amount and kind of fertilizer and lime to use, if needed. Your local Extension office can provide you information on soil testing.

Choose vegetables that your family likes, use recommended varieties for North Florida and order early. This University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension site can help: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening

January is an excellent time to order seeds for your garden. By ordering early, there should be no delay in getting your seeds for spring planting.

If your New Year’s resolution is to get more exercise, eat healthier foods, spend more time with the family or to spend more time outdoors, try vegetable gardening.

Larry Williams is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Consider gardening as a New Year’s resolution

CRESTVIEW — A local business woman's weekend drive-in theater faced a setback before Christmas.

Amanda Willis, owner of the Vintage Attic at 296 Main St. N. in Crestview, was using the store's back lot as a drive-in theater Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 23, but recent cold weather damaged the sound system.

"We won't be doing movies till after Christmas now due to the fact this issue has happened to the sound. But we will be bringing it back in the new year," she said. Repairs were to begin Dec. 21.

The Crestview native credited the drive-in idea to her husband, Chris.

"He's always wanted to go to one, and I've lived in St. Louis before, so I had been to one and thought it was a great and a fun thing to do with your family. And being as Crestview doesn't have [many] family fun things, I thought it would be a great thing here," she said.

Willis tries to pick movies that both parents and children can enjoy, with a focus on Christmas family fun through December. The first movies chosen in late November were "The Grinch" and "Elf."

Once the sound system is up and running again, Willis will add funny and vintage movies to the lineup, including 1970s ones, she said.

She'll continue the Friday and Saturday viewings as well, which include a 6 p.m. movie on Fridays, and 5:30 and 8 p.m. times on Saturdays. Fees are $10 per car, and refreshments cost $1.

"The lot can hold 27 cars … If we can get everything fixed, which I'm sure we will, and it grows, I did talk with someone who may let us use a bigger parking lot," Willis said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Drive-in theater expected to return in 2018

CRESTVIEW — Harry Potter had the sorting hat. Members of the Crestview Citizens Police Academy Alumni group had Community Services Officers Wanda Hulion and Sam Kimmons to help prepare for the Dec. 20 Cops For Kids gift distribution.

Thanks to a big turnout, the job was done in less than an hour, with the Whitehurst Municipal Building vehicle bay turned into a sort of Santa’s workshop production line. While some volunteers sorted and struck out barcodes, others repacked toys purchased Dec. 15 for the annual giveaway.

Wednesday, 97 families in need received presents destined to go under Christmas trees for 234 children.

"This was such a big relief," said one mother of several youngsters who wished not to be identified. "We just moved to Crestview and are still getting set up. The kids wouldn’t have had a Christmas without this (program)."

Some families whose applications had been accepted for the program were already waiting at 7:40 a.m. Wednesday to pick up their black lawn-and-leaf bags filled with toys, Hulion said.

"One lady who works up the street picked up her sack before going to work at 8 a.m.," she said. "I saw her going up Stillwell with the sack over her shoulder like Santa Claus."

After repacking the bags, the CCPAA volunteers laid them out in alphabetical order on the floor of Warriors Hall. As a volunteer or officer checked participants’ IDs, another fetched their bags up to the lobby for them.

"Our thanks to all who helped, including generous members of the community who donated money and new, unwrapped toys," Kimmons said. "I think this was our biggest year ever."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: ‘Such a big relief’

CRESTVIEW — The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences' annual Peanut Butter Challenge has come to an end, with communities donating over 20,000 pounds of the product in Florida.

Those donations include a matching 11,340 pounds from the Florida Peanut Producers Association, according to a media release from the UF IFAS Gainesville office.

Ken Barton, FPPA executive director, thanked Peanut Proud for helping FPPA buy peanut butter below retail cost.

"The Peanut Butter Challenge is a wonderful program that creates a friendly competition between county Extension offices and everyone involved, while providing local food pantries with much-needed protein, in the form of peanut butter," Barton said.

Residents and organizations in the Northwest Florida region contributed 508 jars of the product, which came to 587.71 pounds total, according to Jennifer Bearden of the UF IFAS Okaloosa Extension office in Crestview. This was more than double last year's donations of 227 jars.

"Basically extension offices across the panhandle collect peanut butter to donate to local food pantries. The donation is matched by the Florida Peanut Producers," Bearden said.

"Peanut butter is the only item we collect. We chose peanut butter because it is a commodity that we grow here and it is a very nutritious thing to hand out at food pantries."

Extension office employees distributed some jars to local families during their Farm-City Week outreach in November. The rest will be split among the Sharing and Caring food pantries in Fort Walton Beach, Crestview and Niceville, as well as the Holt Community Food Pantry.

Volunteer Ron Porter, of the Fort Walton Beach Sharing and Caring, said peanut butter is the facility's most expensive food need.

"It's my largest budget expenditure. Peanut butter goes into every bag of food we distribute. I have to buy 20 cases a week, and sometimes I still wind up buying additional regular jars for individual (needs)," he said.

Holt pantry director Donna Ash said the pantry's shelves were emptied Dec. 13 after distributing food to families needing assistance.

The First Baptist Church of Holt organization has seen an increase in the numbers of people they serve since the Thanksgiving holidays.

"We usually have 20 families a week, and every Wednesday, different families show up. We've doubled our usage of the pantry to 40 families a week … Probably eight families were turned away and we told them they can come back next Wednesday. We will have some stores refreshed by then, but with the holidays we've seen such an influx of new people," she said.

The Holt pantry distributes four Wednesdays a month from 9 a.m. to noon, and families can get food from the pantry once a month.

Ash said the majority of the pantry's donations, 75-80 percent, come from the community and particularly businesses. Those who wish to donate may drop items off at the facility during open house on Wednesdays, or contact the church for pick-up.

"CHS Leadership and Baker Leadership students have both donated this year and we go and pick up from them. The new Publix donated bread and bakery items to us weekly so we're able to get fresh bread, and then we go down to the Feeding America site (formerly the Bay Area Food Bank, near Milton), and we purchase every Tuesday 1,000 to 1,100 pounds of food," Ash said.

Donations they prefer include canned vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, and rice and beans.

"We love to be able to have that in every bag that goes out, and of course any farmers that have fresh vegetables, we take that," she said.

Other popular foods include canned items that children like to eat, such as spaghetti and ravioli.

Ash encourages people to donate to food pantries in their area.

"Most of us are so blessed and to see so many families hungry right here among us is sad. I just would like everybody to open their hearts and their wallets and contribute to their food banks near them," she said.

Call 537-6170 or drop off foods 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at 521 Southside Drive, Holt, to donate to the Holt Community Food Pantry.

Call 682-1907 to donate to Sharing and Caring pantry in Crestview, or 244-0778 in Fort Walton Beach.

WANT TO HELP?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Peanut Butter Challenge donations aid local pantries