‘Banking on the Albany Community’ food drive extended to Feb. 28
Deadline extended for Albany food drive following Jan. 22 tornado
By Jennifer Parks
ALBANY — “Banking on the Albany Community,” a drive started by 15 Albany-area financial institutions in response to the Jan. 2 storm that hit Southwest Georgia, has been extended following a tornado that cut a path through southeast Albany Jan. 22.
Financial institutions, in partnership with the Second Harvest of South Georgia food bank, responded by calling on friends and neighbors earlier in the month to donate items for those impacted by the storms due to displacement or lack of power. The items called for in the drive are non-perishable food items or items requiring minimal preparation.
Originally planned to end today, the additional storms that hit the area on Jan. 22 compelled officials to extend the deadline for giving to Feb. 28.
“We decided to extend Banking on the Albany Community due to the additional storms that ripped through our region,” said SB&T President and CEO Pam Simmons. “The Albany area has a continued need, and we want to be there for our friends and neighbors that are effected. Second Harvest Food Bank has been there every step of the way, and it is imperative we keep their shelves stocked.
“We plan to give all current donations to Second Harvest this week and spend the month of February filling the donation bins again.”
More than a dozen banks and credit unions have come to participate in the effort to reach out a helping hand to the community. They include AB&T, Ameris Bank, Artesian City Federal Credit Union, Colony Bank, Bank of Lee County, DOCO Credit Union, First State Bank, First Citizens Bank, Flint Community Bank, Members United Credit Union, PeoplesSouth Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, Renasant Bank, SB&T, Synovus, Regions and SunTrust.
As of Monday, coordinators of the drive said, with nine financial institutions reporting, 13 Second Harvest food bins have been filled with dozens of others in progress.
Those wishing to contribute to the drive can drop off their donations at one of the participating locations.
To learn more about Second Harvest of South Georgia and its programs, visit feedingsga.org.
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