Feeding the Valley Food Bank works to establish Albany connections

ALBANY — By the end of summer, Columbus-based Feeding the Valley Food Bank is expected to open an Albany branch.

The organization is taking over service for Dougherty, Lee, Terrell and Calhoun counties effective Aug. 1. Officials with the food bank are searching for a facility and are expected to hire five employees to begin with — and likely growing in the near future.

Frank Sheppard, president and CEO of Feeding the Valley, has been making rounds and talking to community leaders and elected officials in Feeding the Valley’s newest counties to learn more about the area and seek out those who can help it learn the needs of the communities, ensuring a food bank is set up that will serve the food-insecure population.

“(We are learning) what has worked for food banks in the past and what has not,” he said.

Sheppard said the organization currently covers 14 counties bordered by LaGrange, Fort Gaines and Russell County in Alabama.

“There is 9 1/2 million pounds a year (of food) distributed,” he said.

When Second Harvest of South Georgia was released from serving the area, Sheppard said state food banks made the decision that Feeding the Valley would take over. Sheppard said officials are “very close” to getting a location secured.

“We have vetted the building and are talking with the ownership early next week,” he said. “We will find out then what time is necessary on their end. My guess is that it will be that plus 30 days.”

With the likelihood that the Dougherty facility will not be operational by Aug. 1, Sheppard said Feeding the Valley will serve the four counties via its other facilities in Columbus and Randolph County until the new location is established.

Meetings with Albany-area officials have included those involved with economic development and nonprofits. Food banks must work with nonprofits to fulfill their mission, and Feeding the Valley needs to establish those connections, some of which had worked with Second Harvest.

Sheppard said he is encouraged by the interest he’s seen.

“The community has been very receptive,” he said.

The first step in the process of establishing a local food bank is to appoint an advisory committee. Focus groups are also expected to form out of participating agencies.

The Albany area is known for its high food insecurity, and that has not been lost on Feeding the Valley officials.

“There is a large challenge ahead of us to make sure we meet those needs,” Sheppard said.

Mobile pantries are utilized by Feeding the Valley to offer relief in food deserts. They are available once a month, offering supplemental resources to an average of 50-60 families at each event.

“There is something for each of the meals for the family to get by,” Sheppard said. “There are some sites where we have fed up to 1,000 families a month.”

Sheppard said the organization does feeding sites for children, which it may bring to its new coverage area. He also said he thought that the transportation infrastructure in Albany was solid, which will help with feeding people.

“That is important to us because we have trucks going in and out every day to the community,” Sheppard said. “We will be active in all areas of the community.

“We have heard the needs of the community that they need a food bank and (someone) to serve them at a high level. We are interested in fulfilling that need.”

Southwest Georgia is already an area Feeding the Valley is familiar with. After Hurricane Michael, it helped provide food to people as far south as Seminole County.

“Over the years, we have participated with Second Harvest sharing the commodities we have acquired,” Sheppard said.

About 83,000 people are considered food-insecure in the Feeding the Valley service area, 30,000 of whom are under the age of 18. It serves more than 285 partner agencies and logged in more than 26,000 volunteer hours last year.

For more information on Feeding the Valley and the transition into the new counties, call (706) 561-4755.