When summer begins and school cafeterias close, many children lose access to the meals they depend on each day. Golden Harvest Food Bank is stepping in once again with its Summer Harvest Program, now expanded to serve more families than ever before.

Launched in 2024 as a pilot in five counties, Summer Harvest is now in its second year and reaching families in 13 Georgia counties: Richmond, Columbia, Emanuel, Johnson, McDuffie, Jenkins, Jefferson, Lincoln, Wilkes, Screven, Hancock, Warren, and Washington.

The seasonal program helps fill the gap left when free and reduced-price school meals are no longer available, especially in rural and underserved communities. Through partnerships with local school systems and hunger-relief partners, Golden Harvest is providing pre-registered families with children ages 17 and under with food boxes filled with fresh produce, meats, and other kitchen staples.

Distributions are scheduled throughout May, June, and July, ensuring children have access to nourishing food during the summer months. The boxes are packed by volunteers at Golden Harvest’s Augusta campus.

“When school lets out, too many children lose their most reliable source of nutrition,” said Amy Breitmann, President and CEO, Golden Harvest Food Bank. “Summer Harvest exists to fill that gap. With 1 in 4 local children facing food insecurity, these food boxes do more than provide meals, they give children the chance to enjoy their summer without the worry of hunger."

While the program was originally focused on rural areas, increased demand and strong community support have allowed Golden Harvest to expand into more urban communities this year

At this time, Summer Harvest is available only in Georgia. Golden Harvest Food Bank encourages South Carolina residents and partners to reach out to their state legislators to advocate for increased support of child feeding programs, with the hope of future expansion across the Food Bank's full 24-county service area.