Golden Harvest Food Bank Expands Summer Harvest Program

News Summary

Golden Harvest Food Bank has broadened its Summer Harvest Program to address childhood food insecurity, now serving families in 13 Georgia counties. Launched in 2024, the initiative aims to provide nutritious meals in summer when school meals are unavailable. The program caters to families with children aged 17 and under, offering free food boxes containing fresh produce and essential items. Amid rising food insecurity, community leaders urge greater support for such programs, especially given recent federal budget concerns.

Augusta, Georgia – Golden Harvest Food Bank has expanded its Summer Harvest Program to combat childhood food insecurity, now serving families in 13 counties across Georgia. Originally launched as a pilot program in 2024, it aimed to provide nutritional meals to children during the summer months when school meal programs are unavailable. The counties benefiting from this year’s initiative include Richmond, Columbia, Emanuel, Johnson, McDuffie, Jenkins, Jefferson, Lincoln, Wilkes, Screven, Hancock, Warren, and Washington.

The urgency of this program arises from the alarming statistic that 1 in 4 local children face food insecurity, particularly in rural and underserved communities where many depend on school-based meal programs. Families with children aged 17 and under can register to receive free food boxes that contain fresh produce, meats, and essential kitchen staples, ensuring that children have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer.

Distributions of these food boxes are scheduled for May, June, and July, aligning with the school summer break. Volunteers at Golden Harvest’s campus in Augusta play a crucial role, working diligently to prepare these food boxes for families in need.

Initially, the Summer Harvest Program focused on rural areas. However, due to a significant increase in demand and community support, it has expanded into more urban regions. This adaptive approach underlines Golden Harvest’s commitment to addressing hunger in various locales across Georgia, highlighting the widespread challenge of food insecurity.

Currently, the Summer Harvest Program is exclusive to Georgia. However, Golden Harvest Food Bank encourages residents in neighboring South Carolina to advocate for enhanced support for similar child feeding programs in their state, underscoring the widespread nature of the food insecurity issue.

Concerns have been raised regarding federal budget cuts to food assistance programs that support schoolchildren. Congressman Sanford Bishop has noted that these cuts could exacerbate the food insecurity crisis affecting communities across political lines. Moreover, the Atlanta Community Food Bank has reported a staggering 50 percent increase in requests for food assistance over the last two and a half years, reflecting the growing need for support among families.

The decision by Georgia to opt-out of the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program has sparked further discussions on how best to provide nutritional support to families. Instead of participating in the Summer EBT program, the state’s government has chosen to prioritize existing programs, which community leaders argue may not sufficiently address the ongoing need for food assistance.

Advocates for improved food support emphasize the importance of restoring funding and resources for essential programs that assist children and families facing food insecurity. The collective efforts of community leaders, lawmakers, and organizations like Golden Harvest Food Bank play a vital role in ensuring children retain access to nutritious meals, particularly during summer months when school programs cease operations.

As the Summer Harvest Program continues to expand, it represents a concerted effort to alleviate hunger in Georgia. By focusing on both rural and urban communities, the initiative aims to provide essential nutrition to children, fostering a healthier future for local families.

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Additional Resources

• 13 WMAZ: USDA Funding Cuts Threaten Fresh Food Access
• WJCL: Second Harvest Hunger Relief Savannah
• 11Alive: Atlanta Community Food Bank Need
• Wikipedia: Food Insecurity
• CVS Health: Aetna Invests to Address Food and Housing Insecurity