... And help keep agency menus filled

It was good news last week when Augusta commissioners put on hold a plan for reworking the funding formula for local charities. The plan would have taken the same amount of federal grant money and spread it thinner - hurting some essential agencies.

But were not out of the woods yet. The plan is still on the table. One of those agencies that could suffer is Golden Harvest Food Bank, which serves 25 counties in the two-state area. If anything, local politicians should study Golden Harvest to learn how to operate efficiently: The charitable agency spends just two cents of every dollar raised on management and fund-raising activity. The rest goes to feeding the hungry in the broader community.

Still, the key to the success of such agencies as Golden Harvest has never been government assistance, but the willing participation of private businesses and citizens. SCANA Energy, for example, recently held a food drive that netted nearly 500 pounds of food and more than $6,000 in contributions.

More opportunities to help are on the way. The annual Its Spooky to be Hungry food drive is Oct. 25. That community-based, all-volunteer drive last year brought in a staggering 46,000 pounds of food for Golden Harvest, and nearly $25,000 in donations. This year, for the first time, Spooky also will be held in Harlem and Grovetown, thanks to those citys mayors. And the Peppermill Restaurant in Evans serves free Thanksgiving dinners Nov. 24, with tips to celebrity waiters donated to Golden Harvest and Columbia County Cares.

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Theres no need to wait for big food drives to help, though. If youd like to lend a hand to those in need, contact Golden Harvests Armen Boyajian at 736-1199.