Macon Rotary clubs, food bank, local church hosting food drive today in North Macon

Three Macon Rotary Clubs have partnered with the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank to provide a “Fighting Local Hunger” food drive today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will be held at World Changers Church (630 Wimbish Road in Macon) by the Rotary Club of Downtown Macon, Macon Rotary Club and Macon North Rotary Club.

Participants can drive through the parking lot to pick food items up on a first-come, first-served basis while observing social distancing guidelines to protect from COVID-19.

The food was purchased through the food bank with the organization’s grant funds and Rotary Club donations.

“We are excited to support the Rotarians Against Hunger initiative here in our local community. Our members want to help fight hunger right here in Middle Georgia. We want to make a difference and reinforce the mission of Rotary ‘Service Above Self,’” said Cile Lind, president of the Rotary Club of Downtown Macon.

Rotary members throughout Middle Georgia have long supported the community through a range of service projects. Pints for Prostates, Crimestoppers, literacy projects and recognizing a student of the quarter from two local public elementary schools.

The Middle Georgia Community Food Bank covers 24 counties, serving 175 food pantries.

“We do mobile food pantries, usually six-to-eight each week. Under current conditions, we are now doing as many as 15 to 18. At a recent mobile food pantry we did with five faith based organizations we distributed 60,000 meals in one day,” staid Jeff Battcher, board president of the food bank. “We do not see this problem ending anytime soon. We think the significant increase in food insecurity will continue for 12 to 18 months.”

Donations can be made to the Middle Georgia Food Bank at www.mgcfb.or or by visiting their headquarters located at 4490 Ocmulgee East Blvd. in Macon.

For more information call Pastor Horace Holmes, Jr. 478-256-0997, hholmes@worldchangers.org