United Way of Central Georgia, the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, and Center Hill Baptist Church are teaming up for a food and book distribution this Friday, July 10th at Westside High School at 2851 Heath Road in Macon. The site was selected as a distribution point because many families who live in the area live in parts that are considered a ‘food desert’ or lack transportation to get to fresh, nutritious food. This will also be the first large food distribution on the westside since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. United Way of Central Georgia’s READ UNITED is also getting in on the action with a book giveaway for children up to eight years old. The food and book distribution will enable organizers to give away over 30k pounds of food in 5-day supply boxes to about 500 families in need, while also working to prevent the ‘summer slide’ [tendency for children to lose academic gains from the school year during the summer months] by passing out about 2,400 books to children (0-8 years old).
Volunteers from Center Hill Baptist Church along with volunteers from UWCG’s Volunteer UNITED will be assisting with the distributions. Volunteers will also be distributing information and encouraging participation in the current census to make sure all people in the area are counted. The distribution will start at 11 am and go until 2 pm (or until the food is gone).