Thanks to those who helped with fund-raiser

Editor:

Ive been trying to think of a time in the past 21 years that Golden Harvest Food Bank has been approached by a restaurant where the owners told me in no uncertain terms:

We will have a fund-raiser for Golden Harvest Food Bank;

we will provide all of the food for this day;

//

we will donate all of the money raised to help your organization; and,

we will not keep any of that money for overhead costs.

Not only that, but well have this really motivated person on the committee who is well-connected in the community and shell recruit a whole bunch of local celebrities wholl wait on everybody and help us spread the word. Never mind the support of the wonderful staff of this restaurant, who are willing to help out in any way they can even though theyre not receiving any tips like usual. Hmm, has this happened in the 21 years the food bank has been in existence in Augusta? I dont think so!

The spirit in which the owners of the Peppermill Restaurant, Glenn Kersch and Ling-Feng Tang, and their employees have supported Golden Harvest Food Bank is truly refreshing. Its that type of support that has helped the Food Banks distribution of food to those in need grow to more than 8.6 million pounds per year! When we know that there are people who care that much, it just reaffirms our mission for all of us.

It was also an opportunity to collaborate with one of our partner agencies, Columbia County Cares. The really motivated person was Pam Tucker, director of Columbia Countys Emergency Services Division.

The list of celebrities ranged from TV personalities at all three major network stations, to Austin Rhodes, to Sheriff Clay Whittle to Columbia County commissioners. All cheerfully took part in the festivities.

There is one other person that must be thanked, as he would not accept anything other than a resounding success, and that happens to be Bob Hicks, husband of Ling-Feng Tang. Despite running his own company, he took the time to develop table tents and flyers, with the assistance of Laurie Harmon, our volunteer coordinator. Nearly $7,000 was raised to benefit both Columbia County Cares and Golden Harvest Food Bank. And it was individual citizens who made it all happen.

To all our heartfelt thanks.

Mike Firmin

Executive Director

Golden Harvest Food Bank