The Georgia Mountain Food Bank will collect non-perishable food outside the AccessWDUN studios on the downtown Gainesville Square from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Executive Director of the Georgia Mountain Food Bank Rebecca Thurman joined WDUN’s Mornings on Maine Street to discuss the event.
“We are going to invade the downtown square. We are going to set up a tent. We are going to have a truck outside. We are going to accept nonperishable food donations here at the downtown studio,” Thurman said. “We will have volunteers there taking food and financial donations. We will have some giveaways, we will have Casey The Carrot, doing visits at each location throughout the day.”
Thurman added the food bank will also be set up at the Walmart market locations on Browns Bridge Road and Thompson Bridge Road.
The Georgia Mountain Food Bank has a list of items they need.
“We are always looking for low sugar, low sodium cans, especially in the vegetables and fruits, proteins and canned soups,” Thurman said. “Low sodiums are always preferable, because not only do we want to get out food, but we try to get out healthier food.”
All financial donations will be matched up to $25,000 by the Mall of Georgia, Kia, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram.
Thurman said the food bank has seen a 34% increase in the need for food since COVID, with food sources becoming fewer and fewer.
The Georgia Mountain Food Bank provides food to 67 food pantries in Hall, Dawson, Lumpkin, Union and Forsyth Counties.
