Many South Georgian families view this occasion in a totally different way. According to Second Harvest of South Georgia, harsh storms and growing food prices have contributed to an upsurge in hunger in 2023.
In order to supply more than 1,000 cars, Second Harvest held their yearly Thanksgiving for Thousands event on Tuesday, November 26.
“It allows folks to get out and serve. It helps families truly stay where they need to be. We are nourishing our children, taking care of our seniors, and making sure that working families have what they need this time of year,” Frank Richards president and CEO of Second Harvest of South Georgia stated.
More than 200 volunteers participated in this event, packing supplies for two houses and providing the neighborhood with food to prepare a nutritious Thanksgiving meal.
“It’s not just a way for community service hours, I really like giving back to my community and it’s a great way to do that,” Tamiya Williams, a Valdosta High volunteer, stated. “I think now is a really good time that people need to come together to help out everyone in our community,” Mackenzie Noles, Lowndes High volunteer stated.
According to Richards, working families have had a really difficult year due to storm damage and growing food prices.
“Our local donors have really stepped up during these times, in addition, all throughout the country, we have had a lot of people that engaged with us for the first time truly to help our local community recover from these events,” Richards stated.
One of the businesses that arrived in Lowndes County in 2023 and saw a chance to help Second Harvest’s work was GAF Roofing.
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“It was just an amazing event and moved all of us,” GAF Roofing Plant Manager Daniel Dustin stated. “The opportunity came up for us to be the lead sponsor and we jumped on it because we wanted to be able to help the community as much as we could.”
The serve the City program is anticipated to serve more than 500 people at several places in Lowndes County on Wednesday, Nov. 27, so the efforts will continue:
- Eastside 714 Charlton Street (LAMP)
- Southside 427 S. Lee Street (Old Legions)
- Westside 830 West Gordon St. (Old Speeds Gameroom)
- Northside 2533 Ashley St. (Escape Room Parking Lot)
