Golden Harvest’s endowment fund gives over $340,000 in grants to local organizations
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – 20 local food pantries, churches, and programs received grants of up to $40,000 each on Wednesday from Golden Harvest Food Bank’s ‘Food Forever Fund.’
All in all, more than $340,000 in grants were given to those organizations at the Food Forever Fund luncheon.
It’s an endowment fund that started when someone left Golden Harvest $500,000 in their will in 1998. Now, it’s grown to more than $3 million.
Its purpose? To help agencies who draw food from Golden Harvest.
“Each of you who are gonna receive money today, represent that hope with which I came to Augusta and founded Golden Harvest,” said Michael Firmin, the founder of Golden Harvest and Board Chair for the Food Forever Fund.
Firmin believes this is especially critical for rural areas.
“In the rural areas, the resources are few and far between,” he said. “So this is a way to jump start the dreams that people in rural areas also have to help their people in need.”
One of those rural organizations is Family Connection of Glascock County that received $40,000 for a walk-in cooler.
“Now what we will be able to do is have a storage area for our produce and fruits and vegetables,” said Wanda Davis, the Executive Director. “We’re very rural, so by having this, we’re gonna be able to offer our local citizens a better variety of fruits and vegetables and we all know those things are so important for a healthy diet.”
Broken Shackle Ranch, a boys’ home in Washington County, received more than $17,000 for new kitchen equipment.
“We built our cafeteria in 2000 and we have the same oven and stove that is in disrepair, so that is gonna replace those two items that are in desperate need,” said David Cobb, the COO and CFO. “We work with kids 16-21 years old, been there for 40 years. My parents started the ranch when I was 5, my entire life I’ve eaten food bank food. It’s been awesome.”
Altogether, organizations from 12 of the 25 counties the food bank serves received money to help with food pantry storage, expansion, transportation and more.
“This is what the Food Forever Fund really is about. Challenging the people of our community who care about the hungry now, why not care about the hungry in the years to come?” Firmin said. “And to be remembered as a person who loved those who are in need.”
To donate to the Food Forever Fund or get involved with Golden Harvest, click here.
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