Farm Bureau seeks help for hungry
Eradicating hunger in the state is a goal the Georgia Farm Bureau hopes to achieve with its Harvest For All campaign.
"We are collecting nonperishable foods to reduce hunger in Georgia," said Mary Cain, the office manager for the Columbia County Farm Bureau. "With the help from our young farmers committee, women's committee and each of the state's 159 county Farm Bureaus, this is the largest hunger relief organization in the U.S.''
Columbia County Commissioner Lee Anderson, the president of the Columbia County Farm Bureau, and Shawn Stribel, the Farm Bureau secretary, show off some of the items that have been donated for the Harvest for All statewide food drive.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
The event, which is in its inaugural year, will work toward seeing a hunger-free Georgia, she said.
To food drive kicked off Monday and will continue through Friday, Cain said. Already, the bureau has collected half a grocery bag full of items. Items that are needed include cereal, toaster pastries, canned meats, soups and vegetables, boxed macaroni and cheese, rice and Hamburger Helper.
Bob Ragsdale, the assistant director of field services in Macon, said that on Oct. 28 all of the food collected at each county bureau will be dropped of at the Farm Bureau's main office in Macon. The food will then be given to food banks to be distributed to the needy.
"We anticipate (more than) 300 grocery sacks full of food being made available to hungry Georgians," Ragsdale said, adding that in the nation an estimated 23 million people are in need of emergency assistance.
"The Georgia Farm Bureau is the largest voluntary farm organization in the state,'' he said. "We have an obligation to the people of this state who are hungry.''
The Columbia County Farm Bureau will be accepting nonperishable food items from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at its office, at 330 Milledgeville Road in Harlem. For more information, call 556-6258.