One of the unique constraints the COVID-19 pandemic placed on society during 2020 drew from our inability to protect the underserved, most notably the homeless and poor living often unseen in our region. Long community focused, Lou Farrell devised an innovative and simple solution to reduce food insecurity during the pandemic lockdown: he began delivering peanut butter and jelly sandwiches downtown.
The brilliance of a peanut butter and jelly campaign to feed the hungry pulls in part from Farrell’s previous work helping the needy. Peanut butter, as we all know, can be quite a sturdy protein, less temperamental to many temperature challenges you’d have with other proteins and fats. In addition, jelly provides a pleasant sugar for homeless individuals, whom, due to the nature of being on the streets, can burn through these calories quite fast. As simple solution for an age when no one could spend any social time congregating together.
Sandwiches need not be sophisticated works of culinary art. Instead, Farrell requests that people use basic white bread to appeal to all palates, left whole – not cut. Creamy peanut butter must be double layered, followed by a simple coating of grape jelly. Wrap the sandwiches in a clear plastic Ziplock bag. Stack the completed sandwiches into a box and drive them to a drop off point. From that point on, it’s Farrell’s job. Farrell picks up the food items and delivers them around to three different food bank / drop off areas.
At a much later date, toward the end of 2021, Sarah Rudich, wife of Round Guys Brewing Company founder, Scott Rudich, discovered a neighbor showcasing several peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on Facebook. She struck up a correspondence and began instituting periodic peanut butter and jelly sandwich making in her household.
Over the ten years of its existence, Round Guys performed numerous charitable drives and partnerships, including brewfest fundraisers, charity trivia, dine and donate nights, and many more. Most recently, Round Guys Brewery served as a drop off point for the community to drop off supplies after the tragic Guertse family fire.
As of the writing of this article in January 2022, Lansdale-based Round Guys Brewing Company provided over 200 sandwiches in just the first month of the year. Rudich believes that offering community engagement activities, such as volunteering, allow all parties to grow in sync with each other. When Rudich proposed the idea to staff, he met a very warm reception. It’s Rudich’s hope that by offering peanut butter and jelly sandwich making sessions at periodic moments throughout the year, all staff members will be able to participate in some level, alongside their very community-oriented customers.
I had the privilege of interviewing Lou Farrell for this story. He’s a very unassuming man with a huge heart. Curious about to learn more about the Bread Drop campaign, why not take a listen to our Round Guys Radio Network’s Inside the Brewery – Peanut Butter Jelly Time podcast episode!
Bill McGeeney is the marketing officer and co-owner of Round Guys Brewing Company.
See also:
Round Guys: Alcohol Ink Artist to Design Gimme Seltzers
Jane’s Addiction Gives Shout Out To Round Guys Brewing Co.
Round Guys Brewing Co. Partners With Headway Art Collective
Round Guys: A Lansdale “O.G.” Returns
Round Guys: A Tale Of Two Seltzers
