VALDOSTA, GA (October 7, 2014) -- The communities served by Southeastern Federal Credit Union, including Valdosta and Tifton, Georgia, have successfully filled an entire semi-truck full of food donations to benefit Second Harvest of South Georgia. More than 36,000 pounds of food were collected in September during Southeastern's first annual Fill-a-Truck for Hunger food drive, far exceeding the community goal of 20,000 pounds. With the community challenge met, Southeastern FCU will donate a second truck full of food. All donations will benefit Second Harvest of South Georgia, the area's largest food bank and Feeding America affiliate.
“We are so grateful for the incredible response to the Fill-A-Truck campaign and to everyone who participated," says Eliza McCall, Chief Marketing Officer at Second Harvest. "Most of all, we commend Southeastern FCU for their dedication to making a positive impact on our community.”
Southeastern's Marketing Manager, Courtney Gooding, says "We are simply amazed by the outpouring of support from our community. Our members, local businesses, civic organizations, schools, and churches all came together to accomplish a goal and help alleviate hunger in South Georgia."
The food drive kick-off was held Labor Day weekend at Wild Adventures Theme Park where over 3,600 pounds of food were collected in just three days. Harveys Supermarkets jumpstarted collections with a $10,000 donation, equal to a full semi-truck of food, in addition to community donations collected at nine local Harveys stores. Non-perishable food donations were also collected at all five Southeastern FCU branches during September.
Fill-a-Truck for Hunger would not have been so overwhelmingly successful without the support of local businesses and organizations, including Valdosta State University Greek Life, Moulton Branch Elementary, Pine Grove Middle, Smith Drug Company, Valdosta Rotary Clubs, Valdosta and Tifton Kiwanis Clubs, and Valdosta First United Methodist Church. Local radio stations Hot 102.7 and 95.7 The Mix as well as WCTV News served as media sponsors of the event.
Additionally, a dozen local car dealerships supported the cause by accepting non-perishable food and monetary donations. Those partners included Pipkin's Motors, Imperial Auto Sales, Choice Automotive, The Auto Company, Maluda Auto Sales, Autoteam of Valdosta, Valdosta Toyota, Langdale Ford, D&D Auto Sales, Lee Auto Sales, Joe Hall Used Cars, and Tim Blanton Auto Sales.
Southeastern Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution serving South Georgia since 1953. The Credit Union is owned by its 25,000+ members and governed by a member-elected board of directors. Southeastern has branch offices located in Valdosta, Tifton and Moody AFB.
Second Harvest of South Georgia, a member of Feeding America, serves 30 counties and distributes more than 1.5 million pounds of food per month to children, seniors and families struggling with hunger. For more information on Second Harvest, visit www.feedingsga.org.