Dear Friend,
As the days get longer and summer is in sight, thoughts naturally turn to the upcoming break. Vacations, pool days, picnics, and freedom from the school bell are just ahead!
That freedom from the routine of school is great — unless you have children who rely on school meal programs. Many families are figuring out how to provide enough food for three meals a day — and snacks — during the months when those breakfasts and lunches are no longer available.
This issue of Food for Thought features stories of children and those who are working to help make summer a little easier for families. But summer hunger affects more than just children — for many individuals and older neighbors, food insecurity is a year-round issue.
Thanks to your generosity, Second Harvest of South Georgia is here for our neighbors, ready to provide meals for children, families, and older adults. That’s because YOU always rise to the occasion.
As we head into the summer months, I’m so grateful for your support. Would you like to give again? Every $1 helps provide 9 meals for someone facing hunger. Thank you for your compassion.
Sincerely,
Franklin J. Richards II
President & CEO
Aneah’s Summer Looks Brighter, Thanks to You!
Your generosity helps children like Aneah access the nutritious foods they need all summer long.
When school lets out for summer break, 8-year-old Aneah already knows how she wants to spend her vacation: hanging out with her friends and playing on the swing set at her favorite playground.
Nothing should get in the way of her summer fun — especially hunger.
Access to nutritious food is critical for children like Aneah to grow, play, and thrive all year round. Sadly, when summer comes, the free or reduced-price school meals disappear, and families are left to fill the gap.
That’s when compassionate friends like you step in to help.
Thanks to your generous support, we can operate feeding programs to provide children like Aneah with the nutritious foods they need to play — and thrive — all day.
She’s grateful for the food her family receives from their local pantry — and to you, for helping fuel her summer full of fun.
Aneah’s face lights up when she sees what her mom put in her lunch box for the day.
“It’s yogurt and blueberries!” she exclaims. Those are her two favorite foods! “It just makes me smile.”
With your support, we’re making the summer so much brighter for children like Aneah! Thank you for caring.
When School Lets Out, We Step In
When School Lets Out, We Step In
Thanks to you, children in South Georgia are heading into a summer full of nutritious meals.
When the final school bell rings soon and summer break begins, our thoughts turn to the thousands of children whose primary food source comes from meals in the school cafeteria. Unfortunately, hunger doesn’t take a break. This is where our community partnerships — and YOU — make a difference.
This summer, we’re proud to highlight the continued growth of our Kids Café program, with the addition of new sites in counties like Worth, Ware, and Grady. What began 30 years ago as an after-school partnership between Second Harvest and the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta has grown into a vital lifeline. Kids Café provides an estimated half million meals annually, including more than 80,000 meals served across South Georgia during summer alone.
Boys & Girls Club is expanding its footprint to include Echols, Clinch, and Lanier campuses. Kids Café is growing along with them; we are working together to give kids a safe and welcoming place to have a nutritious meal while school is out. Kristin Hanna, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club, shared that expanding into new counties would not be possible without partners willing to stand shoulder to shoulder in service to their communities.
This summer also marks exciting new partnerships with the Worth County Public Library System and the Crisp County Public Library System. Together, we offer multiday meal distributions that provide families with seven days’ worth of breakfast and lunch at a time — helping parents bridge the gap during months when children are most at risk of hunger.
These library sites make the experience even more meaningful by offering Story Time and other activities that promote literacy and keep children engaged during their visits. Some locations also host special performances — from local storytellers to musicians and interactive programs — turning meal pickup into a fun and educational event for families.
With our new kitchen and expanded summer feeding network, we’re proud to make a meaningful difference for children who might otherwise face hunger when schools close. Thank you to every partner and supporter who helps make this work possible.
Cooking Up Care for Kids
Cooking Up Care for Kids
Becky always wears a smile when she’s volunteering with the kitchen team.
If you stop by our Valdosta kitchen during a Kids Café shift, there’s a good chance you’ll see Becky hard at work preparing meals for local children. Since beginning her volunteer journey in October 2024, she has become a familiar and valued part of our kitchen team. She’s donated more than 240 hours of her time since her first volunteer shift.
For Becky, volunteering is deeply personal. Growing up, she remembers times when consistent meals were not always guaranteed. That experience inspires her to give back and help ensure children in our community have the food they need. This is particularly important during the summer months when school is out and children no longer have access to school meals.
Before she retired, Becky spent 36 years with Bank of America. She started her career as a teller and eventually moved into technology and operations, working extensively with ATM systems. Today, she brings that same dedication and work ethic to serving others.
She also takes part in Bank of America’s retiree volunteer program, which provides grants to nonprofits when retirees volunteer their time. She’s already well on her way toward meeting her goal for this year, and we couldn’t be more thankful.
We are incredibly grateful for Becky’s heart for service and the care she brings to our Kids Café program, helping make sure local children receive the meals they deserve.
If you have a little time to spare and would like to volunteer with Second Harvest of South Georgia, please visit our website at feedingsga.org/serve. Thank you!
Read the Newsletter Again
