The Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia’s new facility in Brunswick is officially ready to serve. Food Bank staff, community, and state-wide leaders celebrated the grand opening of the $6 million facility on February 12th highlighting this significant investment into the local community.
Second Harvest’s new footprint now includes a 54,000 square foot warehouse, a facility ten times the size of its predecessor. Mary Jane Crouch, the Executive Director of Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, provided insights into the funding sources, highlighting the Department of Community Affair’s contribution of $3.4 million through a grant awarded to Glynn County government. She acknowledged the county’s instrumental role in facilitating the distribution of these funds to contractors, leveraging staff time to effectively manage the grant.
Rusty Haygood, Deputy Commissioner of the DCA, pointed to the department’s involvement, underscoring the broader impact of their support. “The department has allocated nearly $65 million to food banks in Georgia,” he emphasized, acknowledging the challenge of quantifying the significant positive effects that such investments will bring statewide.
The completion of the new warehouse stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of government entities, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders, all united in the mission to combat food insecurity and create a brighter future for Georgia.
Since its establishment in 1981, Second Harvest partnered with 237 agencies, spanning churches, charities, and schools, to address hunger in communities across 21 counties. The Southeast branch in Brunswick serves 83 agencies across Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, McIntosh, Pierce and Wayne counties. Jennifer Floyd, manager of the Southeast branch, emphasized the significance of the new facility, highlighting a freezer nearly the size of the old building.
The transformation of the former Scojet facility into a warehouse, a nine-month endeavor, symbolizes Second Harvest’s steadfast commitment to its mission of serving those in need. The warehouse boasts six loading docks, a designated volunteer area, a training room, offices, and ample space, enhancing our capacity to serve individuals and families facing food insecurity.
