Update on Dec. 2, 2024 @ 8 p.m.
The Georgia Mountain Food Bank (GMFB) was successful on Giving Tuesday, racking up roughly $15,500 dollars and four totes of non-perishable food items according to GMFB Executive Director Rebecca Thurman.
“Giving Tuesday is a worldwide movement of ripples in generosity,” Thurman said on WDUN’s The Drive at 5. “We’ve gotten about four totes full of non-perishable food and about $15,500.”
Thurman said that they were set up on the downtown Gainesville square outside the AccessWDUN studio and at the Walmart markets on Thompson Bridge Road and Browns Bridge Road.
Those donations are matched by the Mall of Georgia Kia, Dodge, Ram, Jeep, Chrysler dealership, which is roughly $31,000.
“The community’s been very generous today,” Thurman said. “It’s amazing how many people have just stopped and handed us cash out their window.”
Thurman said that every dollar is five meals they can distribute, which equates to roughly 155,000 meals obtained through Giving Tuesday.
GMFB is a Feeding America affiliate serving Hall, Dawson, Lumpkin, Union, and Forsyth counties. There are nearly 70 food pantries that they supply in the five counties.
Thurman reminds people they can always bring food over to the food bank at 1642 Calvary Industrial Dr. in Gainesville. You can also donate directly at their website at https://gmfb.org.
Original story published on Dec. 2, 2024 @ 8 p.m.
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.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2024/12/1274875/georgia-mountain-food-bank-successful-on-giving-tuesday