The Valdosta Daily Times — VALDOSTA — America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia Inc. has received state recognition for its work in feeding the area’s children.
Frank Richards, chief executive officer, was one of seven honorees across Georgia to receive the 2009 Big Voice for Children Award.
“Each of this year’s honorees are making a difference in a variety of ways and in a range of communities,” said Suzanne Detlefs, chair of the board of Voices for Georgia’s Children in a press release. “These ‘Big Voices’ are thinking outside the box to find creative solutions to support children. And they’re doing this during difficult times when many others may get frustrated and quit or decide to narrow their focus.”
The nomination came as a surprise to Richards, he said. To be eligible for the award, a person is nominated by a member of the Georgia legislature or a member of the Voices for Georgia’s Children board of directors.
The goal of Kids Cafe, a now national program that started in Valdosta, is to provide a hot and nutritious meal to children, he said.
Richards and Robert Soper, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta, developed the idea after realizing many of the children reporting to the after-school program were hungry.
That and the fact that many relied on the reduced and free lunches at school to provide them with the only meal they would eat all day served as the inspiration for Kids Cafe.
“We want to make sure they grow up healthy and lead productive lives and be productive citizens,” Richards said.
By the end of the first month of Kids Cafe, the food bank and the Boys and Girls Club were feeding more than 300 children, a huge jump from 50 children originally in the program.
When parents found out their children could receive academic help as well as a nutritious meal, more started sending their children to the program, he said.
The food bank, in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club, now operates 22 Kids Cafes in eight counties that feed 1,700 children a day, Richards said.
The partnership is now nation-wide with Kids Cafes in Boys and Girls Clubs across America.
Richards began work at Second Harvest as a sophomore in college in 1993. In 17 years of work the job has never been boring, he said.
“I don’t feel like I come to work,” Richards said.
The constant need to do the job better and create new ways to raise money and feed an ever-increasing number of people requires the organization and people working within it to constantly recreate themselves to face the ever-growing challenge, he said.
A creatively dedicated group of individuals and donors always willing to help make the food bank a success, Richards said.
On Monday Second Harvest dispersed more than 1,000 boxes of food through its Senior Brown Bag program, an annual event to help feed senior citizens over the Thanksgiving holidays.
The food bank is feeding more people now than ever before, Richards said, with a 38 percent increase in the number of people served, this year alone, in its 10-county coverage area.
Voices for Georgia’s Children engages in research, analysis and advocacy to assist the state’s leadership in developing sound policy decisions that improve the well-being of children. The independent, nonprofit seeks to build consensus on a long-term agenda based on a measurable set of goals that will significantly impact children’s health, safety, education, connectedness and employability.
Local News
A Big Voice for Children
Frank Richards honored for his work as advocate
- Local News
-
-
Weekend preview with Brittany McClure
Find out what's going on this weekend with Brittany McClure.
-
Popular vendor taken out of the ballparks
With a wagon-load of fresh cakes, hot boiled peanuts and ice-cold bottled water she has witnessed generations of children, or as she refers to them, her angels, grow into adults with children of their own.
-
Three candidates file for election
Qualifications for Lowndes County general primaries continue with the addition of a couple new candidates interested in running for elected office.
-
City, county tax discussions stalled
Local Option Sales Tax “negotiations” between city and county officials have descended from open meetings to a stalemate, with no clear agreement on how the estimated $210 million in tax revenue should be split.
-
Valdosta High principal to retire
After one year as Valdosta High School principal, Rufus McDuffie has announced his retirement.
-
South Georgia’s Ace
High above war-torn Germany, World War II fighter ace Donald S. “Bush” Bryan led his flight toward an estimated 50 enemy aircraft.
-
Arraignment set for Quitman 11
The “Quitman Eleven” are scheduled to have an arraignment on May 29, Brooks County Courthouse, according to their attorney, Roy Copeland.
-
Qualifying opens
Qualifications for Lowndes County general primaries kicked off Wednesday and plenty of folks tossed their proverbial hats in the ring on opening day.
-
Fire on Ridgeway Drive
No injuries were reported after a fire broke out Tuesday morning at an 800 block Ridgeway Drive house.
-
Lowndes High grad part of ABC’s ‘Duets’
VALDOSTA — A Lowndes High School graduate is expected to be a part of the debut episode of the new ABC talent-search show “Duets” premiering this week. - More Local News Headlines
-
