TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) — Food banks across South Georgia say they need the community’s help as they work to combat food insecurity ahead of the holiday season.

Second Harvest of South Georgia said its inventory is lower than normal going into the holidays, while the Tiftarea Community Food Bank says it’s seeing more families in need of help.

Both organizations are now asking the community for donations.

Second Harvest says inventory is lower than normal

Eliza McCall, chief programming officer with Second Harvest of South Georgia, said the organization is a regional food bank serving 26 counties across South Georgia. She said it is the largest and leading hunger relief nonprofit in the area.

“Our inventory is looking a little lower than normal, a little lower than we would like for it to be going into the holiday season,” McCall said.

McCall said Second Harvest works with churches, shelters, outreach ministries, Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCAs to make sure families and children have food.

She said Second Harvest is planning its Thanksgiving giveaway event, Thanksgiving for Thousands, for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. She said the organization is also working with partner agencies on their Thanksgiving and holiday events.

Rising prices and fewer donated items

McCall said more families are struggling to make ends meet. She said food prices and gas prices are high and that buying power is not going as far because of inflationary pressures.

She said commodities and donated items are also coming in less frequently.

McCall said Second Harvest is being careful about how it distributes resources so it can help South Georgia in the long term and not only in the short term.

Tiftarea Community Food Bank needs non-perishable items

Ambresha Allen, a volunteer board member for the Tiftarea Community Food Bank, said the food bank has operated for more than 40 years, serving Tift County residents on the second, third and fourth Friday of every month.

Allen said the food bank has seen an increase in foot traffic.

“All Tift County residents are welcome at our food bank,” Allen said.

She said the food bank needs non-perishable items to continue providing supplemental meals for families, the homeless and any residents in need.

She added that many families are in need of meals during the holidays. “Sometimes this can be the only meals that they receive,” she said.

Where to drop off donations

The Tiftarea Community Food Bank’s second community food drive runs from Monday, Nov. 2, to Monday, Nov. 23. Drop-off locations and hours are:

• Leroy Rogers Senior Center, 315 W. Second St., Tifton: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• City of Tifton (City Hall), 130 First St. E., Tifton: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Nov. 11.
• Chicken Salad Chick, 2202 U.S. Highway 41, Suite A, Tifton: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Southeastern Credit Union, 2212 Tift Ave. N., Tifton: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center, 726 W. Second St., Tifton: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Requested items include canned vegetables, breakfast bars, canned beans, canned meat, canned soup, cereal, dry beans, jelly, mac and cheese, milk, noodles, peanut butter, potato flakes and rice.

The food bank also has a donation box at Kost Cutters in Tifton where shoppers can purchase a $5 Thanksgiving dinner bag that the food bank will distribute during Thanksgiving week.

For more information, contact David Shepard at 229-392-2688.

How to donate to Second Harvest

McCall said donations “are the lifeblood of what it is that we do here.” She said every $1 donated helps Second Harvest provide nine meals’ worth of food. She added that donations can come from individuals, manufacturers, retailers, and farmers with excess food.

People can donate money or time through Second Harvest’s website, feedingSGA.org, or by calling 888-453-4143.

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