Tagged: help end hunger
Healthy Savannah’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health grant-funded programs are addressing food insecurity issues.
(SAVANNAH, GA) Young children need fruits and vegetables daily to support healthy growth and brain development but a new study has found 1 in 2 Georgia children don’t eat a vegetable daily and 1 in 3 don’t eat a fruit daily.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released the results of a 2021 study, “Fruit, Vegetable, and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake Among Young Children, by State.” [https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7207a1.htm?s_cid=mm7207a1_w] The data indicates the importance of and need for interventions at both the national and state levels that improve young children’s nutrition to support their optimal growth and brain development.
The CDC study cites the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans which recommends that children eat fruits and vegetables each day, and limit sugar sweetened beverages. However, it also found that many young children between ages 1 and 5 years are not eating fruits and vegetables each day and are regularly drinking sugary beverages.
“Two-thirds of Chatham County children 2-5 years of age consume more than the recommended amount of sugar daily and 73% of food advertisements use familiar characters to target children,” said Paula Kreissler, executive director of Healthy Savannah. Kreissler has been at the forefront of a “healthy checkout” initiative to encourage local grocery stores to place healthy items at the registers instead of sugary snacks.
“Moreover, 17.6% of all Savannahians are food insecure and 21.8% of our children are food insecure,” Kreissler said. “Food insecurity is more than lack of access, it’s about being able to find fresh fruits and vegetables near where you live. Improving access to healthy foods is one of Healthy Savannah’s top initiatives through the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant.”
The five-year, $3.4 million REACH grant is administered by Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia. The grant was awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2018 with funding deployed in an “upstream” approach by the Savannah/Chatham County project team to foster sustainable health equity among Black residents in low-wealth neighborhoods.
Healthy Savannah has also conducted community surveys since 2014, asking residents in priority neighborhoods about their access to healthy food options among other lifestyle topics.
Respondents in 2020 said they wanted more fresh produce at neighborhood stores. In the 2022 survey, participants indicated a general increase in healthy food purchases and the use of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
The 2022 survey also showed that Forsyth Farmers’ Market (FFM) continues to be a leading resource of fresh food in Savannah /Chatham County. A majority of respondents (66%) had heard about or used the market and (53%) currently purchase healthy foods at FFM, up 20% from 2019. A quarter (26%) had purchased food from FFM’s Farm Truck 912 and three quarters (75%) desired to do so.
“We’re encouraged that people are becoming more familiar with resources like the Forsyth Farmers’ Market and Farm Truck 912, the latter being supported by the REACH grant,” said Kreissler. “The grant has also fueled the expansion of Healthy Savannah’s Corner Store Initiative and the Y’s Fresh Express program.”
An initiative of the YMCA of Coastal Georgia, in partnership with Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, the Fresh Express program was launched in 2016 to serve neighborhoods with low access to fresh food.
“In 2022, Fresh Express distributed 9142 pounds of fresh produce to 2028 households in Savannah,” said Ruby Castro, Nutrition Program manager for the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health grant. “The monthly event is now serving three permanent sites at Curtis V Cooper and Moses Jackson community centers every third Friday and Waters Ave & 40th St every first Friday.”
12 local stores are also now participating in the Corner Store Initiative which launched in 2019 to make healthy food choices the easy choice in small retail stores that are often the only source of food in some of Savannah’s low-wealth neighborhoods.
“The CDC study [https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7207a1.htm?s_cid=mm7207a1_w] is intended to renew a national focus on nutrition, hunger, and health and the call to improve food and nutrition security,” said Kreissler. “It provides information that decision makers and practitioners need to help ensure children have an opportunity for their healthiest start. We’re already seeing how programs and policies that promote access to healthy food are making a positive difference right here in Savannah.”
ABOUT THE YMCA OF COASTAL GEORGIA/HEALTHY SAVANNAH GRANT FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH: In September 2018, Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia were awarded a five-year, $3.4 million grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health. Awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the funding is being deployed in an “upstream” approach by the Savannah/Chatham County project team to foster sustainable health equity among Black residents in low-wealth neighborhoods. The aim of the local project, called Healthy Opportunities Powering Equity, or HOPE, is to increase the availability of high-quality nutrition; promote physical activity through creating greater access to safe places to walk, run, bike and play; and foster stronger connections between people and the healthcare providers who serve them. Working with more than 200 community partners and organizations, the team is committed to elevating the health and wellness of the community through policy, systems, and environmental change. In July 2022, Healthy Savannah received the CDC’s 2022 REACH Lark Galloway-Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity Challenge. The award recognizes extraordinary individuals and entities whose work has contributed to advancing health equity.
healthysavannah.org ymcaofcoastalga.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912.844.9990
www.carriagetradepr.com
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com
Fresh Express Expands to Three Permanent Locations for Healthy Food Choices
(SAVANNAH, GA) The Fresh Express no-cost fresh food distribution program has expanded to a third permanent site.
Located at the intersection of East 40th Street and Waters Avenue, the site provides food on the first Friday of each month. The two other locations — the Curtis V. Cooper Family Health at 106 E. Broad St., and the Moses Jackson Center at 1410 Richards St. — distribute on third Fridays. All begin at 9:30 a.m. on the day of distribution.
The new site started as a pop-up location but was made permanent due to demand.
“At each site, we usually have around 25 households that come to pick up produce, but turnout at Waters and 40th often surpasses that average,” said Laura Schmarkey, association outreach program director. “For example, in June we served 34 households there.”
An initiative of the YMCA of Coastal Georgia, in partnership with Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Fresh Express launched in 2016 to serve neighborhoods with low access to fresh food. The monthly event expanded to its second and now third permanent sites with the support of the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant funding awarded to Healthy Savannah and the Y through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Schmarkey says while demand helped drive the decision to make the new location permanent, it was made possible through the efforts of the volunteers who staff each site and make each day successful.
“One of our site volunteers told us about a young lady who consistently wanted lemons, specifically as a remedy during the pandemic to make hot lemon water,” said Schmarkey. “So our staff and volunteers always made sure to gather some lemons for this lady and her elderly mother when stocking up before distribution day.”
On the first and third Fridays of each month, the volunteers and staff members distribute an average of 750 pounds of fresh produce and bread to neighbors in need. Each family can fill two bags full of fresh foods to take home each month at no cost to them.
“We shop the Second Harvest’s selection on the day of distribution so every time there is something different, but we like to lean towards having an even mix of fruits and veggies,” Schmarkey said.
“We love selecting mixed greens and salad kits and staples like potatoes and onions. We try to always find what we call ‘walkable food,’ such as apples, peaches, plums, and bananas for our community members who don’t necessarily have a kitchen or a home. We also distribute bread and often have surprise items like pumpkins, mini evergreen trees, water, and sunscreen.”
According to a 2020 study from Feeding America, 17.1% of Chatham County residents are considered food insecure. Additionally, 21.8% of the children in Chatham County are food insecure.
“Since the launch of Fresh Express we have been able to put more than 60,000 pounds of fresh food back into the community to serve neighbors in need,” Schmarkey said. “The Y is proud to serve our community with our partners at Second Harvest and United Way, along with support from the REACH grant, to provide this monthly produce distribution program that aims to provide access to fresh fruits, vegetables and bread in neighborhoods with insecure access to healthy foods.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at one of the Fresh Express sites can sign up by emailing Schmarkey at laura.schmarkey@ymcaofcoastalga.org or calling 912-354-5480.
For more information on volunteering, visit https://ymcaofcoastalga.org/Volunteer or https://www.unitedwayvolunteers.org/ Learn more about the Fresh Express program and see the schedule of upcoming distribution dates at https://ymcaofcoastalga.org/freshexpress.
ABOUT THE YMCA OF COASTAL GEORGIA/HEALTHY SAVANNAH GRANT FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH: In September 2018, Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia were awarded a five-year, $3.4 million grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health. Awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the funding is being deployed in an “upstream” approach by the Savannah/Chatham County project team to foster sustainable health equity among Black residents in low-wealth neighborhoods. The aim of the local project, called Healthy Opportunities Powering Equity, or HOPE, is to increase the availability of high-quality nutrition; promote physical activity through creating greater access to safe places to walk, run, bike and play; and foster stronger connections between people and the healthcare providers who serve them. Working with more than 200 community partners and organizations, the team is committed to elevating the health and wellness of the community through policy, systems, and environmental change. In July 2022, Healthy Savannah received the CDC’s 2022 REACH Lark Galloway-Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity Challenge. The award recognizes extraordinary individuals and entities whose work has contributed to advancing health equity.healthysavannah.org ymcaofcoastalga.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912.844.9990
www.carriagetradepr.com
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com
Savannah’s Corner Store Program Awarded $10K City Grant and Expands to Offer More Healthy Food Choices
(SAVANNAH, GA) Six local stores are now participating in the Corner Store Initiative to make healthy food choices the easy choice in small retail stores that are often the only source of food in some of Savannah’s low-wealth neighborhoods. The program experienced challenges during the COVID pandemic, but is now beginning to thrive and new incentives are being introduced to entice more retailers and their customers to get on board.
Healthy Savannah has also been awarded a $10,000 grant from the City of Savannah’s Community Partnership Program to support the current efforts with the initiative.
“I am happy that the City of Savannah is a proud supporter of Healthy Savannah’s Corner Store Initiative through our Community Partnership Program,” said Savannah Mayor Van Johnson. “This funding will bolster our current efforts to ensure healthy food options are available at corner stores and increase the capacity to reach more stores across our city.”
Healthy Savannah further supports the Corner Store Initiative with the YMCA of the Coastal Georgia as joint administrators of the $3.4 million Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant. REACH aims to help close the gap in health disparities among African Americans in Savannah and Chatham County.
“Both the store owners and patrons love the program,” said Dr. Deidre Grim, Corner Store coordinator. “The owners feel they’re providing an excellent and needed service to the community. At the same time, the customers appreciate the ability to have access to fresh produce.”
The Initiative got underway in 2019 but during 2020, its first four participating stores dwindled to two as the retailers were hit hard by the pandemic. Those stores have since reopened and are back on board, and two additional stores have recently enrolled.
“The initiative has been crucial to find out what food is healthy for a human body, what is the amount that one should ingest, and most importantly having these healthy foods available and accessible,” said Mohammad Abdallah, manager, Zack’s Quick Stop, one of the stores participating in the program. “In the simplest words, this is beneficial healthy marketing!”
There is no cost to join the program and participating stores can accept the Supplemental Nutrition Incentive Program (SNAP) benefits for produce. Grim is also in the process of piloting a program that will help both the stores and the community. Through this effort, customers can double their SNAP benefits for produce, essentially being able to buy twice as much for their spend, while store owners are paid in full for the fresh fruits and vegetable products they sell.
“This is a win-win situation for stores and patrons,” said Paula Kreissler, Healthy Savannah’s executive director. ”We’re currently looking for new stores in low-wealth, low-access areas throughout Chatham County to join the Corner Store Initiative and take advantage of this beneficial opportunity.”
Through the Corner Store Initiative, participating retailers also receive technical assistance which includes help in applying to accept benefits from SNAP and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program. They also receive marketing and promotional support and access to Healthy Savannah’s and the YMCA’s vast network of partners. Stores are also encouraged to work within that same partnership network to host community events and gain exposure for their outlets while becoming more recognized as socially responsible community partners. Healthy Savannah and “Y” team members additionally provide free literature and materials to the stores and assist with signage.
Stores are considered the best candidates for the Corner Store Initiative if they are not located close to farmers’ markets or grocery stores and are in areas heavily populated with fast-food restaurants and unhealthy food outlets. Those neighborhoods also usually have low walkability scores and are populated with residents who may not have access to a vehicle to get to a grocery store.
The six Savannah stores currently enrolled in the program are Nitis Gas, 1263 US-80; Zack’s Quick Stop 2701 Ogeechee Rd.; Shiv Food Mart, 4602 Skidaway Rd.; Chevron, 3014 Skidaway Rd.; A-1 Foodmart, 902 Pennsylvania Ave.; and Eagle One Market, 2120 W Bay St.
For more information on the Corner Store Initiative please visit healthysavannah.org/healthy-corner-store-initiative. Retailers wishing to enroll in this free program to enhance food access should contact Dr. Deidre Grim at grimconsultingllc@gmail.com or Ruby Hallam at ruby.hallam@ymcaofcoastalga.org.
ABOUT THE YMCA OF COASTAL GEORGIA/HEALTHY SAVANNAH GRANT FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH: In September 2018, Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia were awarded a five-year, $3.4 million grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health. Awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the funding is being deployed in an “upstream” approach by the Savannah/Chatham County project team to foster sustainable health equity among Black residents in low-wealth neighborhoods. The aim of the local project, called Healthy Opportunities Powering Equity, or HOPE, is to increase the availability of high-quality nutrition; promote physical activity through creating greater access to safe places to walk, run, bike and play; and foster stronger connections between people and the healthcare providers who serve them. Working with more than 200 community partners and organizations, the team is committed to elevating the health and wellness of the community through policy, systems, and environmental change.
healthysavannah.org ymcaofcoastalga.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912.844.9990
www.carriagetradepr.com
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com
HEALTHY SAVANNAH URGES DONATIONS OF HEALTHY FOODS DURING HOLIDAYS
From families to college students, more people are depending on food pantries as a consistent food source.
(SAVANNAH, GA) Nearly 160,000 people in Coastal Georgia struggle with food insecurity and many families turn to food pantries for additional assistance, especially during the holidays. However, healthy options are not always available for those in need. All too often, they must rely on inexpensive, unhealthy foods because that’s all that’s available.
“If we want to be a healthier community we need to donate healthier food,” said Paula Kreissler, executive director of Healthy Savannah. “This is more than just providing meals to others so they don’t go hungry. The families who receive food pantry donations deserve the same healthy foods that we feed our own families.”
Kreissler says everyone, regardless of income level, should have access to fruits and vegetables, proteins, and whole grains. Research has shown that healthy foods can reduce a person’s likelihood of developing diet-related chronic diseases. Nutritious options are particularly important for the physical and cognitive development of children and to help all family members cultivate healthy eating habits.
That’s why Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of the Coastal Georgia, administrators of the five-year, $3.4 million grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH), are encouraging those who can donate to others during this holiday season to provide healthy options, such as canned fruits in 100% fruit juice, dried fruits, and low sodium canned products. Donations of whole-grain bread and pasta and breakfast cereals, along with proteins such as canned tuna in water, are also encouraged.
“Among those who are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity are college and university students,” said Ruby Hallam, MPH, CHES, nutrition manager at YMCA of Coastal Georgia. “That’s why we are excited to be working with the Savannah State University food pantry to support their efforts to provide healthy choices to students using that resource.”
Savannah State’s Student Development office administers the program that assists students experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. As part of this effort, the school recently received a grant to provide 20 students with fresh vegetables, a whole turkey, and other nutritional food supplies for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“This is one of the ways we try to address food insecurity on our campus and to ensure that students have access to healthy nutritious foods,” said Jacqueline Awe, director of Student Development. “We also encourage healthy donations so we can provide healthy selections to pantry shoppers year-round.”
The University also provides access to healthy foods through its College of Science and Technology, which grows fruits and vegetables on campus through an aquaponics system, and then donates them to students who shop at the school’s food pantry.
One of the largest food pantries in Chatham County is operated by the Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship church on Savannah’s southside. It has grown to serve hundreds of families throughout the community with a food giveaway every first Saturday of the month and through other outreach events.
“Our church thrives on building relationships with the community and ensuring that all needs are met with love,” said Dierra Jones, Pantry Ministry team leader. “We encourage donations of healthy food options because they are important for strong bodies and overall health. Nutritious foods help children thrive and enable families to build a legacy on good health, exercise, and longer life expectancy.”
Those who wish to donate to Kingdom Life’s food pantry are encouraged to drop off fresh produce and non-perishable foods with lower sodium, lowered sugar/no added sugar. The church is located at 425 W. Montgomery Cross Rd. Donations are generally accepted on Tuesdays and Thursdays during office hours between 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The congregation is also planning its annual “Blessings on the Southside” event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m on Saturday, December 18, with a giveaway of 1,000 grocery boxes and 1,000 free gifts for kids and families who attend while supplies last. For more information, call (912) 921-5346.
By donating purposefully to programs such as those at Savannah State University and Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship, Kreissler is encouraged that Chatham County residents can help assure local food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens will be able to supply desperately needed nutritious foods to families and students in need right here in our area, through the holidays and beyond.
ABOUT THE YMCA OF COASTAL GEORGIA/HEALTHY SAVANNAH GRANT FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH: In September 2018, Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia were awarded a five-year, $3.4 million grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health. This funding, awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been deployed by the Savannah/Chatham County project team to reduce health inequities experienced by Black residents in low-wealth neighborhoods. The local project is called Healthy Opportunities Powering Equity, or HOPE. Its aim is to increase the availability of high-quality nutrition, increase physical activity by creating greater access to safe places to walk, run, bike and play, and foster stronger connections between people and the healthcare providers who serve them. Working with more than 200 community partners and organizations, the team’s work elevates the health and wellness of our community through policy, systems, and environmental change.
healthysavannah.org ymcaofcoastalga.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912.844.9990
www.carriagetradepr.com
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com
From families to college students, more people are depending on food pantries as a consistent food source.
(SAVANNAH, GA) Nearly 160,000 people in Coastal Georgia struggle with food insecurity and many families turn to food pantries for additional assistance, especially during the holidays. However, healthy options are not always available for those in need. All too often, they must rely on inexpensive, unhealthy foods because that’s all that’s available.
“If we want to be a healthier community we need to donate healthier food,” said Paula Kreissler, executive director of Healthy Savannah. “This is more than just providing meals to others so they don’t go hungry. The families who receive food pantry donations deserve the same healthy foods that we feed our own families.”
Kreissler says everyone, regardless of income level, should have access to fruits and vegetables, proteins, and whole grains. Research has shown that healthy foods can reduce a person’s likelihood of developing diet-related chronic diseases. Nutritious options are particularly important for the physical and cognitive development of children and to help all family members cultivate healthy eating habits.
That’s why Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of the Coastal Georgia, administrators of the five-year, $3.4 million grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH), are encouraging those who can donate to others during this holiday season to provide healthy options, such as canned fruits in 100% fruit juice, dried fruits, and low sodium canned products. Donations of whole-grain bread and pasta and breakfast cereals, along with proteins such as canned tuna in water, are also encouraged.
“Among those who are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity are college and university students,” said Ruby Hallam, MPH, CHES, nutrition manager at YMCA of Coastal Georgia. “That’s why we are excited to be working with the Savannah State University food pantry to support their efforts to provide healthy choices to students using that resource.”
Savannah State’s Student Development office administers the program that assists students experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. As part of this effort, the school recently received a grant to provide 20 students with fresh vegetables, a whole turkey, and other nutritional food supplies for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“This is one of the ways we try to address food insecurity on our campus and to ensure that students have access to healthy nutritious foods,” said Jacqueline Awe, director of Student Development. “We also encourage healthy donations so we can provide healthy selections to pantry shoppers year-round.”
The University also provides access to healthy foods through its College of Science and Technology, which grows fruits and vegetables on campus through an aquaponics system, and then donates them to students who shop at the school’s food pantry.
One of the largest food pantries in Chatham County is operated by the Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship church on Savannah’s southside. It has grown to serve hundreds of families throughout the community with a food giveaway every first Saturday of the month and through other outreach events.
“Our church thrives on building relationships with the community and ensuring that all needs are met with love,” said Dierra Jones, Pantry Ministry team leader. “We encourage donations of healthy food options because they are important for strong bodies and overall health. Nutritious foods help children thrive and enable families to build a legacy on good health, exercise, and longer life expectancy.”
Those who wish to donate to Kingdom Life’s food pantry are encouraged to drop off fresh produce and non-perishable foods with lower sodium, lowered sugar/no added sugar. The church is located at 425 W. Montgomery Cross Rd. Donations are generally accepted on Tuesdays and Thursdays during office hours between 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The congregation is also planning its annual “Blessings on the Southside” event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m on Saturday, December 18, with a giveaway of 1,000 grocery boxes and 1,000 free gifts for kids and families who attend while supplies last. For more information, call (912) 921-5346.
By donating purposefully to programs such as those at Savannah State University and Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship, Kreissler is encouraged that Chatham County residents can help assure local food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens will be able to supply desperately needed nutritious foods to families and students in need right here in our area, through the holidays and beyond.
ABOUT THE YMCA OF COASTAL GEORGIA/HEALTHY SAVANNAH GRANT FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH: In September 2018, Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia were awarded a five-year, $3.4 million grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health. This funding, awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been deployed by the Savannah/Chatham County project team to reduce health inequities experienced by Black residents in low-wealth neighborhoods. The local project is called Healthy Opportunities Powering Equity, or HOPE. Its aim is to increase the availability of high-quality nutrition, increase physical activity by creating greater access to safe places to walk, run, bike and play, and foster stronger connections between people and the healthcare providers who serve them. Working with more than 200 community partners and organizations, the team’s work elevates the health and wellness of our community through policy, systems, and environmental change.
healthysavannah.org ymcaofcoastalga.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912.844.9990
www.carriagetradepr.com
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com
Second Harvest Food Bank: Putting Hunger Out of Business
Putting Hunger Out of Business
By Mary Jane Crouch
What does hunger in coastal Georgia look like? It’s a mother of three, juggling multiple jobs to afford daycare and feed her children; an elderly man living on social security and attempting to pay for the expensive, life-saving medicines he needs to survive; a child struggling to concentrate in class after eating a candy bar for breakfast.
Considered one of the most prosperous nations in the world, the United States has an abundance of food resources. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that Americans throw away 29 percent of all food that is grown, manufactured and processed in the U.S. This might imply that we have enough to waste, yet according to the Georgia Food Bank Association, 18.7 percent of Georgians are food insecure, which means they aren’t guaranteed their next meal.
Over 700,000 children in Georgia live in food insecure households, and consequently, one in four children in Georgia does not have access to food.
Georgians are not ignoring this paradoxical issue, especially here in the greater Savannah area. Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia is initiating creative ways to feed hungry people while strengthening local communities. Established in 1981 in Savannah and now serving 21 counties, Second Harvest distributes over thirteen million pounds of food to 151,000 people through 275 non-profit partners. By utilizing the food bank to distribute resources, our partners save more than $9 million annually, which enables them to strengthen their programs and help more people in need.
These initiatives provide support for all ages, from our community’s very youngest to some of the area’s most seasoned citizens.
Kids Cafe, now a nationwide program, started in Savannah almost 30 years ago as a response to two young boys searching for food in a local housing project. Today, Chatham County has 45 Kids Cafes that serve over 3,200 hot evening meals to children during the school year. The cafe also provides children with tutoring and structured learning games during after school hours. And the program continues to expand. During the summer months, more than 6,000 meals are served daily at over 50 locations.
Second Harvest also has an outreach program geared toward the elderly, a group that is often overlooked in discussions of those at-risk for hunger. Brown Bag for the Elderly provides emergency food assistance to low-income seniors. Each month, volunteers pack 1,500 bags of food, which are delivered to seniors who struggle to make ends meet and must often decide between food and medication. Brown Bag for the Elderly provided 18,000 bags of food to at-risk seniors in 2016 alone.
The Partner Distribution program provides food to homeless shelters, congregate feeding programs, pantry programs and backpack programs for children. In 2016, the food bank provided more than 13.2 million pounds of food through these nonprofit organizations.
Even with these programs, some communities are still not reached. In an effort to provide food to these under-served areas, a Mobile Food Pantry distributes fresh food directly to low-income areas in rural communities with the assistance of volunteers.
The numbers speak for themselves. At a bird’s eye view, Second Harvest distributes over 9.6 million meals annually, providing nourishing options through Kids Cafes, brown bags to low-income seniors, a food pantry on wheels, and hundreds of caring partners. However, none of this could be accomplished without support from our sponsors, allies, and volunteers.
Despite our success at feeding more and more families each year, we hope to grow our programs to serve those outside of our reach. Second Harvest will continue to provide that next meal to someone in need. Our goal: putting hunger out of business.
Mary Jane Crouch is the executive director of Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. Established in 1981 in Savannah Georgia, Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia is a locally inspired, volunteer-driven non-profit food bank and community partnering organization. Second Harvest serves as the food safety net for tens of thousands of children, senior citizens, low-income families, and people with disabilities who are at-risk for hunger throughout Southern Georgia. For more information, visit www.helpendhunger.org
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