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About Us

Hunger is a real issue in our nation, our state and in Coastal Georgia. There are more than 38 million people in the United States that struggle with food insecurity, 2.3 million in the state of Georgia and 114,760 right here in Coastal Georgia.

Established in 1981 in Savannah Georgia, America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia is a locally inspired, volunteer-driven nonprofit food bank and community partnering organization. Second Harvest serves as the food safety net for tens of thousands of children, senior citizens, low-income families, and people with disabilities who are at risk for hunger throughout Coastal Georgia.

We work diligently to feed the hungry by distributing nutritious food to non-profit agencies and at-risk elderly and youth. Our programs include Brown Bag for the Elderly, Grace’s Kitchen, Kids Cafe, Mobile Food Pantry, and Partner Distribution. These programs are designed to provide hunger relief to those most vulnerable. We partner with 245 faith-based and non-profit agencies to provide emergency food assistance across Coastal Georgia.

Last year, Second Harvest food bank provided more than 19 million meals (more than 22.8 million pounds of food) to hungry people in our area. Support from the community and collaboration with partners make it possible for us to reach many in need right here in our own community.

America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia urges you to join the fight against local hunger. Hunger Hurts. You can help.
HOW THE FOOD BANK WORKS
America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia serves as the food source for partner non-profits.

We pick up or receive truckloads of food that are donated daily by local and national grocers, businesses, and individuals.

Second Harvest inspects, sorts, and stocks donated items in our warehouses.

Donations are supplemented with purchased items.

Fresh and non-perishable products are distributed to more than 245 nonprofit agencies in a 21-county service delivery area that includes both urban and rural communities.

Our partner agencies include food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, domestic abuse facilities, senior centers and daycare centers for low-income children.

69%

of the people we serve choose between
food and utlities

66%

of our clients choose between
food and medicine/medical care

64%

of children in Coastal Georgia
go hungry every day

57%

of the people we serve choose between
food and housing

Hunger Facts

34 percent of households served by food pantries and soup kitchens had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care.

(Feeding America, 2010)

Georgia is one of the nine states exhibiting statistically significant higher household food insecurity rates than the national average; Georgia’s food insecurity rate is 14.3%.

(U.S. Census Bureau, 2018)

175,540 residents of Coastal Georgia live with food insecurity.

(Map the Meal Gap. Feeding America, 2018)

16.4 million or approximately 22 percent of children in the U.S. live in poverty.

(USDA)

More than 45,090 children in Coastal Georgia are at-risk for hunger.

(Georgia Department of Education, 2011)

7.9 percent of households with seniors (2.3 million households) are food insecure; 8.9 percent of the elderly live below the poverty line, 3.4 million older Americans.

(USDA, 2010)

The number of food insecure seniors is projected to increase by 50% when the youngest of the Baby Boom Generation reaches age 60 in 2025.

Among working poor families, those with children were 4 times more likely than families without children to live in poverty.

(U.S. Department of Labor, 2008)