Healthy Savannah Urges Donations Of Healthy Foods During Holidays

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Nov. 29, 2021 - PRLog -- From families to college students, more people are depending on food pantries as a consistent food source.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Nearly 160,000 people in Coastal Georgia struggle with food insecurity and many families turn to food pantries for additional assistance, especially during the holidays. However, healthy options are not always available for those in need. All too often, they must rely on inexpensive, unhealthy foods because that's all that's available.

That's why Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of the Coastal Georgia (https://ymcaofcoastalga.org/), administrators of the five-year, $3.4 million grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) (https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/state-local-programs/reach/index.htm), are encouraging those who can donate to others during this holiday season to provide healthy options, such as canned fruits in 100% fruit juice, dried fruits, and low sodium canned products. Donations of whole-grain bread and pasta and breakfast cereals, along with proteins such as canned tuna in water, are also encouraged.

Savannah State's Student Development office administers the program that assists students experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. As part of this effort, the school recently received a grant to provide 20 students with fresh vegetables, a whole turkey, and other nutritional food supplies for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The University also provides access to healthy foods through its College of Science and Technology, which grows fruits and vegetables on campus through an aquaponics system, and then donates them to students who shop at the school's food pantry.

One of the largest food pantries in Chatham County is operated by the Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship (https://kingdomlifesav.org/) church on Savannah's southside. It has grown to serve hundreds of families throughout the community with a food giveaway every first Saturday of the month and through other outreach events.

Those who wish to donate to Kingdom Life's food pantry are encouraged to drop off fresh produce and non-perishable foods with lower sodium, lowered sugar/no added sugar. The church is located at 425 W. Montgomery Cross Rd. Donations are generally accepted on Tuesdays and Thursdays during office hours between 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The congregation is also planning its annual "Blessings on the Southside" event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m on Saturday, December 18, with a giveaway of 1,000 grocery boxes and 1,000 free gifts for kids and families who attend while supplies last. For more information, call (912) 921-5346.

By donating purposefully to programs such as those at Savannah State University and Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship, Kreissler is encouraged that Chatham County residents can help assure local food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens will be able to supply desperately needed nutritious foods to families and students in need right here in our area, through the holidays and beyond.