Second Harvest Food Distribution a success

Published 9:34 am Friday, January 25, 2019

By Staff

Second Harvest

Saturday, Dec. 15, was 2018’s last Second Harvest food distribution and what a great day it was for our community. The dedicated group of volunteers showed up in record numbers and distributed not only food but also winter coats. 

More than 10,000 pounds of food and produce was distributed to almost 200 families and there were more than 500 winter coats available — for men, women, and children — that were donated by the many caring people in the community.

Most everyone that came in on Saturday morning left with two or more coats for themselves and/or those in their families.     

A BIG ‘thank you!’ to the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties — Second Harvest’s ‘parent’ organization and sponsor of the month. In addition to all of the great volunteers and the financial support from the Rotary Club, there was a lot going on at Saturday’s distribution. These groups contributed in a variety of ways and we give a big ‘THANK YOU!’ to them for their efforts:

  • As usual, the Lake Oconee Elks Lodge and Lake Oconee Church had volunteers show up in big numbers.
  • Second Harvest, the Lake Oconee Elks Lodge, and the Lake Oconee Academy Beta Club (led by LOA teacher Kris Stevens) sponsored the coat drive throughout the community and at Lake Oconee Academy and we collected over 500 winter coats.  Special thanks to Kimberly Hong and LOA student Anna Claire Hong who led the community-wide effort to collect coats and did an outstanding job in contributing to the success of this year’s effort.
  • Second Harvest Books (led by Rotarian Donna O’Neal) was there — as they are every month — and provided free books for children less than 10 years of age. 
  • And as they do every month, The Oconee Regional Humane Society distributed pet food and the men from Penfield Christian Home joined and helped load food into cars.

It was really a Saturday to remember.

Second Harvest has an outstanding group of volunteers and if you are interested in joining the team or providing financial assistance in support of efforts to end hunger in Greene County email Reid Conklin at reidconklin@gmail.com.