Bank of America associates donated the equivalent of 16,500 meals to Golden Harvest Food Bank on June 27, bringing the local branches donations to the food bank to more than 236,000 meals this year.

After the check presentation, employees donned volunteer T-shirts and walked across the street to the Faith Food Factory, where they sorted and inspected miscellaneous food items donated during the NALC Stamp Out Hunger campaign.

Bank of America staff, including Augusta/Aiken Market President Ora Parish, received an education on just how complicated processing and re-packing food for distribution to the public can be at the food bank.

Miscellaneous donations have to be inspected to ensure they have not expired and are still correctly and safely packaged. Items also need to be sorted into food type categories and foods with allergens including soy, gluten and nuts are placed in separate containers.