For the next four weeks, the Merry Maids Victoria team will collect peanut butter donations in an annual campaign to provide protein-rich food to local families during the summer months when school meal programs pause. It culminates with an anticipated massive donation to celebrate the campaign’s late founder Matt Tanner on July 21 – his birthday.
The Victoria-based cleaning company created Project Peanut Butter in 2014, donating more than 11,000 jars of peanut butter and tens of thousands of dollars in financial support for Mustard Seed Street Church.
The Mustard Seed currently serves approximately 65,000 residents – about 15 per cent of Greater Victoria’s population – each month.
“We are seeing record levels of demand, and it's not just from those people traditionally imagined when one thinks of a food bank,” director of development Claudia Rezende said in a news release. “Food bank visits rose 24 per cent in 2024 alone and are up a staggering 168.9 per cent since 2020.”
This event serves as an ongoing tribute to Matt, who died in 2021 following a brain stem stroke at the age of 36. His father Scott and brother Dylan have continued the family business campaign in his honour.
“This program that was created by Matt is now part of his legacy, and we want to continue his good work in the community,” said Scott Tanner, owner of Merry Maids of Victoria. “We miss Matt dearly and are grateful to keep his vision and dedication alive, especially at a time when there are so many families in need.”
On June 14, in lieu of presents, guests at Scott Tanner and Jacqueline Sloan’s wedding celebration donated a little over $8,000 to Project Peanut Butter in honour of Matt putting the campaign on track to surpass the last event that raised 3,000 pounds of peanut butter and $23,000.
The public can donate jars or funds at participating sponsor locations, including Ian Stone Golf Shop, Tommy Gun’s Barbershop in Langford, and For Good Measure as well as Merry Maids Victoria: 101 – 1840 Oak Bay Ave. now through July 19. Posters at these locations feature QR codes, allowing donors to scan and make secure online donations, which go directly into The Mustard Seed’s account. Tax receipts are automatically issued.
