When summer begins and school cafeterias close, many children lose access to the meals they depend on each day. Golden Harvest Food Bank is stepping in once again this summer with an expanded Summer Harvest Program to serve more families.
Launched last year as a pilot in five counties, Summer Harvest will reach families in 13 Georgia counties: Richmond, Columbia, Emanuel, Johnson, McDuffie, Jenkins, Jefferson, Lincoln, Wilkes, Screven, Hancock, Warren and Washington, according to a news release.
“When school lets out, too many children lose their most reliable source of nutrition,” said Amy Breitmann, President and CEO, Golden Harvest Food Bank. “Summer Harvest exists to fill that gap. With 1 in 4 local children facing food insecurity, these food boxes do more than provide meals, they give children the chance to enjoy their summer without the worry of hunger.”
Through partnerships with local school systems and hunger-relief partners, Golden Harvest is providing pre-registered families with children ages 17 and under with food boxes filled with fresh produce, meats, and other kitchen staples.
Distributions are scheduled throughout May, June and July, ensuring children have access to nourishing food during the summer months. The boxes are packed by volunteers at Golden Harvest’s Augusta campus.
While the program was originally focused on rural areas, increased demand and strong community support have allowed Golden Harvest to expand into more urban communities this year.
“At this time, Summer Harvest is available only in Georgia. Golden Harvest Food Bank encourages South Carolina residents and partners to reach out to their state legislators to advocate for increased support of child feeding programs, with the hope of future expansion across the Food Bank’s full 24-county service area,” the release said.
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