Representatives from WoodmenLife participated in a ‘first-planting’ at Golden Harvest Food Bank’s new garden plot at Walton Way and 7^th Street in downtown Augusta on March 22. Members of the company’s charitable giving foundation planted grapes and blueberry bushes near the plot’s new arbor and greenhouse, which the foundation funded. WoodmenLife also donated 66,000 meals to feed hungry families at the event.

“The WoodmenLife national community focus is fighting hunger and this project was so important to us because it reached so many individuals,” said Lisa Thomas, WoodmenLife community outreach manager. “Sixty-six thousand people being fed with our donation has made us ecstatic.”

The greenhouse on the food bank’s new plot is matched by a second greenhouse in the main garden behind The Master’s Table Soup Kitchen, 702 Fenwick St. Mercy Ministries Thrift Store, a Golden Harvest partner agency, donated its unused greenhouse, and the original structure was recycled to create two smaller greenhouses. WoodmenLife provided funding for additional construction materials.

According to the USDA, more than 41 million Americans live in food insecure households, including nearly 13 million children and 5 million seniors. Through its Healthy Plate program, Golden Harvest works to inspire healthy change by providing more nutritional food to more food insecure individuals. As part of the program, the food bank distributed 1.5 million pounds of produce to families in need in 2018.

“Our goal is to eliminate hunger in our communities,” said Pat Frappampina, WoodmenLife Georgia north regional director. “This is a great project to help us grow toward that endeavor.”