Macon Magazine

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 | maconmagazine.com 117 MEL ANATED COMMUNIT Y STIMUL ATION PROJECT Melanated Community Stimulation Project serves in many ways, including hunger relief. They focus on helping individuals. Echols feels it's important to listen to a person's particular needs. With no storage facility, Echols said the best way to help is through monetary donations. "We still bring meals downtown," he said. "We like to bring something hot like barbecue versus cold sandwiches, and we try to be personable. I know sometimes going to food banks to get help can be embarrassing. I like to make it about hearing people and not just getting them their food." Echols' efforts exemplify how a few volunteers can do good, even without extensive funding. THE MENTOR'S PROJECT The Mentor's Project doesn't ignore the hunger they see in their primary mission of empowering Bibb students to reach their potential. The project operates a food pantry open to children throughout the community. Children are referred by teachers, schools, Head Start programs, and others. "It's child-based, but it's for the whole family," said June O'Neal, who operates 24/7 from her garage. "They get several bags or boxes of food." O'Neal said those wanting to donate should remember it's mainly for kids. "We love getting things kids want, like cereal and mac-and-cheese – not just canned green peas, you know?" MIDDLE GEORGIA COMMUNIT Y FOOD BANK The Middle Georgia Community Food Bank (MGCFB) is the storehouse for those helping individuals experiencing food insecurity. Partner agencies across 24 counties come and get ten times what a dollar could buy in a store. The food bank is the hub where, according to their records, $1 can buy eight meals. That means a $1 donated there provides a lot of help. Kathy McCollum, president and CEO, said the MGCFB provides food for food pantries, mobile pantries, soup kitchens, after-school programs, emergency shelters, senior programs, residential addiction programs, and more. "On our website, we keep an updated list of all the food pantries in all the counties, all the mobile pantry dates, and all the agencies that are helping," she said. "If someone calls needing help, that's exactly where I look. We put a lot of that on our Facebook page." Plus, the website tells how to donate finances, time, and energy. UNITED WAY OF CENTR AL GEORGIA Amanda Greechan of United Way said though the organization does not directly help those experiencing food insecurity, it is involved with agencies that are a major resource. A big part of that is 2-1-1. "That's the number to call to connect with services," she said. "You can speak with someone and get information about who's close to you offering help, including where to find food. You can just dial 2-1-1, you can text your zip code to 898-211 and get through to a chatbot sort of thing, or you can go to our website and click the 'Get Help' button." Also on the website are tips related to fighting hunger. One page lists eight ways to get involved like donating, volunteering, writing lawmakers, and contacting local farmers, stores, restaurants, or other possible suppliers to the food bank. BACKPACK BUDDIES In 2011, a small fellowship group at Forest Hills Church considered that free breakfasts and lunches were provided at school, but what about weekends? One solution was giving food-filled backpacks to students to take home. Starting small, they supplied food for nine kids at one school. Now, encompassing volunteers across Macon, they serve 2,200 students in 24 schools in three counties. Donated finances allow them to purchase bulk food through MGCFB and area businesses. Students get 15 child- friendly items between drinks, protein, fruit, snacks, and breakfast. "We also accept food and snack donations," said Brenda Lambert, who leads Backpack Buddies. "We can always use fruit gummies, cheese crackers, peanut butter crackers, breakfast bars, and items like that. We have no paid staff; about 350 volunteers get the job done each week." Lambert said since young recipients carry their food home, they shy away from giving large, heavy items like canned goods. WARNER ROBINS FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FOOD PANTRY A good example of committed volunteers utilizing the MGCFB is the Warner Robins First United Methodist Church Food Pantry. Pre-COVID figures show the ministry distributed food to 7,895 individuals in 2,695 families annually. The work is made possible by churches, schools, a college, public libraries, and groups at Robins Air Force Base. More than 50 volunteers work each month to aid those experiencing hunger. Now called the Brev Hunt Food Pantry in honor of its former leader of 30-plus years, the pantry is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-4 p.m. U CRE ATE MACON When Charise Stephens began U Create Macon, kids said they wanted to ride bikes. Stephens was surprised some had never ridden at all and started a bike team. It's become the group's hallmark. One outcome is being able to address healthy eating among kids who face food insecurity. "We wanted to provide healthy opportunities," Stephens said. "You can't ride 30 miles if you're not eating well at home, so we started a food closet. We don't have chips or that Brenda Lambert of Backpack Buddies. Photo by Matt Odom.

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