The Food Bank, operating in its new location on Donnie Simmons Way in the old Julia P. Bryant School, is working diligently this summer to make sure no one in Bulloch County goes hungry.

Beginning Monday, Statesboro Cares, a summer feeding program for children in prekindergarten through high school will offer a hot meal weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Though registration is not required, Joe Bill Brannon, the director of the Food Bank, encourages anyone interested to call (912) 489-FOOD (3663) so workers can have an accurate count for food preparation.

“We hope this is the beginning of a good thing,” Brannon said of the new service.

Another milestone for the Food Bank was the first meal for Rebecca’s Café, served on the Food Bank’s campus on May 27. Rebecca’s Café, formerly distributing lunch on another location, will serve every Tuesday at the Food Bank, from noon until 1 p.m.

Brannon spoke with delight about that first meal and said that he hoped within the next couple of months to offer two meals a week with a long-term goal of five meals per week.

Though the Food Bank served the meal on paper plates and cups this time, recipients dined on new tables and chairs.
“It looked nice to see families sitting around the tables today, eating a meal together,” Brannon said.

Brannon also spoke with excitement last week about a mobile food pantry, which was held Saturday. America’s Second Harvest from Savannah delivered 40,000 pounds of food to the Food Bank to be distributed to local families in need. Brannon said that amount of food can feed approximately 600 families.