Golden Harvest opens new produce rescue center in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Thursday was a big day for Golden Harvest as it cut the ribbon on its new produce rescue center.
Volunteers then went straight to work, handling fresh produce for hundreds of hunger relief organizations in the area.
The project is two years in the making and is set to help Golden Harvest become a hub for community care.
It helps 25 local counties and 350 hunger relief programs.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment,” said President and CEO of Golden Harvest Amy Breitmann.
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They’re all ready to see the benefits of Golden Harvest’s new produce rescue center.
Paul Sholette, Aiken Food Lion store manager, said: “It’s a very big deal to us that our food-insecure neighbors don’t have to choose between dinner and rent or gas or groceries.”
The new produce rescue center adds millions of pounds of food to the area.
Breitmann said: “We just did not have the capacity before to have a space like this where we could do this sorting and distribution.”
Golden Harvest says this isn’t possible without community partners like Food Lion, who presented Golden Harvest with a $250,000 check.
Sholette said: “Being able to come out into the community and feed people that are food insecure is just as important to us as what we do inside our stores every day.”
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The Augusta Partnership for Children says that every Wednesday in August, they’ll give away baby formula to those in need.
Golden Harvest also says this space will allow volunteers to ensure that each item is carefully sorted and inspected.
Breitmann said: “This food is loose product that came in on a truck that now they can break down into more manageable bags that can be given to our agencies, they can then it on to families that are food insecure.”
She says the need is greater than ever.
“We are still in need of assistance as we build this mission and continue serving more people,” said Breitmann.
With the new produce rescue center, Golden Harvest expects to be able to distribute about 2.5 million pounds of fresh produce for those in need.
To learn how to volunteer or donate, visit the Golden Harvest website.
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