During the holidays, citizens having a hard time making ends meet need help to ensure their tables aren't empty. And that's where the Statesboro Food Bank comes in. The Food Bank handed out more than 200 turkey breast rolls Tuesday, along with other food to make sure recipients have a full Thanksgiving meal today.
Joe Bill Brannon, vice president of procurement for the food bank, spends about 40 hours a week making sure people don't go hungry, but he is quick to remind anyone that it's not him providing the food — it's citizens who donate food items or money that make feeding the hungry possible.
Donations were sufficient for Thanksgiving, but Christmas is coming soon and the holidays are often the most difficult time of the year for those with financial challenges. Tuesday, the food bank served 21 families, Brannon said. The average number of families served daily is 15.
"We have been busy," he said.
Even Wednesday, when consumers weren't expected, they showed up needing groceries, he said. A consumer must obtain a form from an assistance agency such as the Department of Family and Children in order to get food from the bank, and those offices were closed Wednesday, he said.
But still, some families who could not make it Tuesday dropped by Wednesday in anticipation of getting food to make sure the Thanksgiving table was laden.
As the demand for food assistance is steady and growing, the need for donations is constant, Brannon said. Nonperishables and canned goods — meat such as tuna, corned beef and chicken — any type vegetables, pasta, rice, mashed potato flakes, crackers, bread, and cereal are needed on a constant basis.
With cash donations to the food bank, Brannon can often find better deals than the average grocery shopper, because he uses that donated money to buy food from places such as Second Harvest, which offers food to food banks and other distributors at discounted prices.
"A $5 donation will buy a case of beef hash," he said. "That's 24 cans for about $5.08.”
Seeing families in need smile as t hey leave, knowing they have food, is a great reward for Brannon and the many others who work at the Statesboro Food Bank. Keith Hickman is president of the board and long-time volunteer Alton Odum is treasurer.
Brannon is the most visible, however. Many have seen his blue Ford pickup truck with the "Food Bank" sign, pulling a trailer filled with goods. He has been working with the food bank for over 16 years now, and after retirement a few years ago, he spends 50 to 60 hours a week working to make sure hungry people are fed.
About 250 families in Statesboro and Bulloch County are served each month, he said. In addition to the food bank pantry, there are 60 families a week served by a morning food program. Donated items are collected from local grocery stores and distributed Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Statesboro's First African Baptist Church on Institute Street, he said.
These items are perishables — meat, deli and produce. While fresh vegetables and other foods are often accepted at the food bank, there is currently nowhere to store perishable items, and the items taken must be distributed immediately. Brannon said he hopes plans to find a larger location will come to fruition soon.
Food bank volunteers, along with Bi-Lo Charities, also feed children at the Boys and Girls Club every day, Monday through Friday, at 4 p.m., making sure they have a hot meal. More than 200 kids are fed weekly, he said.
The food bank volunteers also help provide food for senior citizens programs - 120 seniors received two bags of groceries last October, and more will get the supplemental food nags again in December, he said.
But with all the programs available, there are still those who don't eat regularly.
"There's hungry people here in Bulloch County, and we're not feeding all of them," Brannon said. "We're an emergency food bank."
But those who do come in and take advantage of the food programs should do so, and hopefully others will come in to be served, he said. That would mean even more donations will be necessary, but Brannon feels the community will step up and continue to be generous as it has in the past.
Again, donations of nonperishable foods are constantly needed. The shelves in the food pantry empty as soon as they are filled when consumers come in to get provisions for family meals. Donations from a few cans from individuals to large truck loads from collection efforts are constantly needed, he said.
Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 11 a.m to 5 p.m., except for holidays like today, he said.
For more information, contact Brannon at (912) 682-4144 or the food bank at 489-3663.
Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at 489-9414.
Joe Bill Brannon, vice president of procurement for the food bank, spends about 40 hours a week making sure people don't go hungry, but he is quick to remind anyone that it's not him providing the food — it's citizens who donate food items or money that make feeding the hungry possible.
Donations were sufficient for Thanksgiving, but Christmas is coming soon and the holidays are often the most difficult time of the year for those with financial challenges. Tuesday, the food bank served 21 families, Brannon said. The average number of families served daily is 15.
"We have been busy," he said.
Even Wednesday, when consumers weren't expected, they showed up needing groceries, he said. A consumer must obtain a form from an assistance agency such as the Department of Family and Children in order to get food from the bank, and those offices were closed Wednesday, he said.
But still, some families who could not make it Tuesday dropped by Wednesday in anticipation of getting food to make sure the Thanksgiving table was laden.
As the demand for food assistance is steady and growing, the need for donations is constant, Brannon said. Nonperishables and canned goods — meat such as tuna, corned beef and chicken — any type vegetables, pasta, rice, mashed potato flakes, crackers, bread, and cereal are needed on a constant basis.
With cash donations to the food bank, Brannon can often find better deals than the average grocery shopper, because he uses that donated money to buy food from places such as Second Harvest, which offers food to food banks and other distributors at discounted prices.
"A $5 donation will buy a case of beef hash," he said. "That's 24 cans for about $5.08.”
Seeing families in need smile as t hey leave, knowing they have food, is a great reward for Brannon and the many others who work at the Statesboro Food Bank. Keith Hickman is president of the board and long-time volunteer Alton Odum is treasurer.
Brannon is the most visible, however. Many have seen his blue Ford pickup truck with the "Food Bank" sign, pulling a trailer filled with goods. He has been working with the food bank for over 16 years now, and after retirement a few years ago, he spends 50 to 60 hours a week working to make sure hungry people are fed.
About 250 families in Statesboro and Bulloch County are served each month, he said. In addition to the food bank pantry, there are 60 families a week served by a morning food program. Donated items are collected from local grocery stores and distributed Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Statesboro's First African Baptist Church on Institute Street, he said.
These items are perishables — meat, deli and produce. While fresh vegetables and other foods are often accepted at the food bank, there is currently nowhere to store perishable items, and the items taken must be distributed immediately. Brannon said he hopes plans to find a larger location will come to fruition soon.
Food bank volunteers, along with Bi-Lo Charities, also feed children at the Boys and Girls Club every day, Monday through Friday, at 4 p.m., making sure they have a hot meal. More than 200 kids are fed weekly, he said.
The food bank volunteers also help provide food for senior citizens programs - 120 seniors received two bags of groceries last October, and more will get the supplemental food nags again in December, he said.
But with all the programs available, there are still those who don't eat regularly.
"There's hungry people here in Bulloch County, and we're not feeding all of them," Brannon said. "We're an emergency food bank."
But those who do come in and take advantage of the food programs should do so, and hopefully others will come in to be served, he said. That would mean even more donations will be necessary, but Brannon feels the community will step up and continue to be generous as it has in the past.
Again, donations of nonperishable foods are constantly needed. The shelves in the food pantry empty as soon as they are filled when consumers come in to get provisions for family meals. Donations from a few cans from individuals to large truck loads from collection efforts are constantly needed, he said.
Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 11 a.m to 5 p.m., except for holidays like today, he said.
For more information, contact Brannon at (912) 682-4144 or the food bank at 489-3663.
Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at 489-9414.