MACON, Ga. — For years, 13WMAZ has held our annual Stuff the Truck event.
It's even bigger this year, and schools across Central Georgia are collecting canned goods and non-perishable food items for the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank.
From rice and canned vegetables to dry pasta and cereal, the students at Westside High School are already three boxes into helping their community.
Westside High School freshman Amireya Tobler talked about the demand she saw from the community.
"Like cans of food and spaghetti and chips and cereal, some people actually need it; on the other hand, the school and everybody else appreciates us," Tobler said.
Westside's Future Business Leaders of America chapter, or FBLA, organized the drive. Senior Airan Rivera said she takes pride in her school and community involvement.
"We make sure to always do a lot of service activities to help provide and make sure our community's okay," Rivera said. "It also makes us feel really great to know that we're helping and contributing to making our community a better place for others."
Judge Evans, the lead advisor of Westside's FBLA chapter, talked about the motivating factor behind the food drive.
"The food insecurities that we know are alive and well in our community, and really that's driving and pushing us to want to ensure that people, whether they're in school or they're at home, have food, on the table every day," Evans said.
Junior Janiyh Matthew talked about how much of an impact she feels she's making.
"It makes me feel great, knowing that people that are struggling are okay and have food to eat," Matthew said.
But when it comes to stuffing the truck, it's more than collecting cans and food items to them. These students are proud to represent and be there for their community in times of need.
"At the end of the day, we're giving back, and we're trying to make sure we're in the right spot at the right time," Evans said. "You know, it's a busy time of the year; you got basketball starting, football is ending, and a lot of great things are happening, and Christmas and Thanksgiving, so we want to make sure our team is in place everywhere to be of assistance and to serve."
Because between all of us, we can bridge the gap around the holidays and help our neighbors.
Your donations will make it into the hands and stomachs of those who really need them.
You can also support the mission by donating money to the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank online here, or by texting TRUCK to 478-752-1309.
We hope to see you at our locations and thank you for your in-person contribution.
They will be parked in front of the Walmart stores at the times listed below.
Milledgeville: 2592 N Columbia St on Nov. 14th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Dublin: 2423 US-80 West on Nov. 15th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Macon: 5955 Zebulon Rd on Nov. 16th from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Warner Robins: 2720 Watson Blvd on Nov. 16th from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
MORE ABOUT THE MIDDLE GEORGIA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK
- MGCFB's mission is to "help our neighbors thrive by providing equitable access to nutritious food with community partners.”
- MGCFB is a Feeding America food bank and a member of Feeding Georgia.
- MGCFB serves 24 counties in the region: Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Crawford, Dodge, Dooly, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Macon, Monroe, Peach, Pike, Pulaski, Taylor, Telfair, Treutlen, Twiggs, Upson, Wheeler, Wilcox, and Wilkinson.
- 85,360 Middle Georgians are estimated to be food insecure.
- Of those, 27,040 are children.
- $1 is the equivalent of eight meals.
Here is a list of nonperishable foods (no glass jars):
- Canned vegetables (low sodium preferred)
- Canned fruits (no sugar added)
- Canned meats – tuna, chicken
- Soups, stews, chili
- Breakfast items – cereal, breakfast bars
- Rice, pasta
- Macaroni and cheese dinners
- Peanut butter