DOOLY COUNTY, Ga. — 13WMAZ's Stuff the Truck program is growing, with the help of the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank and supporters who give donations.
Though the food bank's headquarters are in Macon, they're able to serve 24 counties by supplying food donations across Georgia.
Partner agencies are always needed. Now -- for the first time -- two new organizations in Dooly County will be stocking their shelves with items collected from stuff the truck.
In Unadilla, Jene't Taylor with Christ Chapel Unadilla Food Connection said on average, their pantry feeds nearly 600 people a month.
"With our pantry, if can take one worry away from families out here, then that's what we're here to do," Taylor said. "Everybody's probably already worried about how to get the gifts for their families and how to make this a really good Christmas holiday, Thanksgiving season for their families by getting the donations from Stuff the Truck. They don't have to worry about, 'What am I gonna cook?'"
Byromville Community Food Pantry is a 15 minute commute from Taylor's church. The organization is located in a city without a grocery store. Sally Lester and her husband, Jack Lester, began distributing food in June; Sally Lester says they're looking forward to doubling their holiday supply and feed more families after Stuff the Truck.
"Just being able to be a part of giving back and being able to help this community and communities across Georgia is a great thing," Sally Lester said. "When you're that person who wants your kids to come home for the holidays, but you don't have anything to give them, or you don't have a meal to prepare for them, but we can help provide that meal and they can have that."
Sally Lester said as a former Maconite, she remembers her family participating in Stuff the Truck prior to their move.
"It's kind of come full circle for us," Sally Lester said.
Both organizations tell 13WMAZ they hope to empty their pantries to fill the ones in other people's homes.
"They're gonna have all the food that they need in order to do that great meal that everybody will still be talking about next year," Taylor said.
The two groups mark new Stuff the Truck partners in Dooly County. There's already a third organization located in Vienna.