SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – WSAV News 3 is launching its inaugural “School’s Out Summer Food Drive,” benefitting America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia and Bluffton Self Help.
The community campaign is designed to help children who normally depend on free or reduced breakfast and lunch during the school year, but who may not have easy access to nutritious food during the summer months.
WSAV News 3 will host a series of drive-up, drop-off events at various locations across the area.
In the meantime, donations can be dropped off at our station at 1430 E Victory Dr. during normal business hours. We also have a donation bin set up at our Bluffton bureau located at 1308 Fording Island Road, Unit L.
Viewers are asked to donate any of the following items, which are designed for children to be able to easily open, heat and eat:
- Applesauce or Fruit Cups (individual cups)
- Boxed crackers
- Canned vegetables and beans (pop tabs)
- Canned soup (pop tabs)
- Canned tuna and chicken
- Cereal (individual packs)
- Cereal bars
- Oatmeal (individual packs)
- Pasta noodles
- Pasta sauce (non-glass containers)
- Peanut butter & jelly
- Ramen noodles
- Rice
The items will be collected, sorted, boxed and distributed to children and families in our area.
According to Feeding America, food insecurity is defined as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.” It’s an ongoing and consistent problem in parts of the United States, especially in the South. According to Feeding America, over 34 million people, including 9 million children experience food insecurity in the United States. Georgia has one of the highest child food insecurity rates in the nation at 14.4%, which ranks #23 in the United States.
Second Harvest provided more than 19 million meals to residents of their service area last year. Of those meals, more than 750,000 were distributed to children considered at risk for hunger.
Bluffton Self Help helps serve more than 21,000 neighbors who are food insecure.
Check back for more information on the “School’s Out Summer Food Drive” as details on exact locations and times become available.