Children are our most valuable natural resource.
— Herbert Hoover
If we don’t stand up for children, then we don’t stand for much.
— Marian Wright Edelman
Frank Richards, president and chief executive officer of America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia Inc., was recently honored with a Big Voice for Children Award. He was one of seven people recognized across Georgia for his outstanding work as an advocate for kids in the area.
As David Gibbs, a board member for Voices for Georgia’s Children, a nonprofit organization, said, “Frank doesn’t stand around waiting for others to do something. He’s the first to say, ‘I’ll do that.’”
At the age of 21, Frank Richards became leader of America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia Inc., an organization that serves a 10-county area and looks forward to the day when every American has quick and easy access to safe food in a clean and nurturing environment.
Under his leadership, America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia Inc. has raised over $70 million and distributed over 60 million pounds of food to hungry men, women and children across South Georgia. Knowing that nearly 1 out of every 4 of the people eating at a soup kitchen in Georgia is a child and recognizing that school lunch programs are the only meals for many poor children, Frank Richards established the Kids Café program.
This program serves free and nutritious meals to more than 1,300 children after school at 22 locations in the area. Plus, it provides each child one hour of homework assistance. Kids Café also feeds more than 4,000 children three meals a day throughout the summer and during school breaks.
Recently, Frank Richards established Teacher's Harvest, a school supply store that provides much-needed supplies for children attending school who cannot afford them.
South Georgia’s children are fortunate to have a man like Frank Richards working for them. He is not afraid to think outside the box and take risks, if he believes doing so will help better the life of a child. If he gets frustrated, he perseveres because he knows that a solution is out there.
He knows that the children are the future, and he works tirelessly to help ensure that the future is a bright one for all of us.
What We Think
The children are our future
- What We Think
-
-
Grading policy: A second chance?
In clarifying the Lowndes County Schools’ controversial grading policy, Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith spoke of second chances.
-
Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
-
Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
-
Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
-
Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
-
What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
-
School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
-
Just the facts, please
The Times has taken some hits this weekend following the reporting of the Rev. Floyd Rose’ rally on Saturday concerning the car which drove into a home, killing an infant on New Year’s, and an incident at Pinevale Learning Center. Some police officers think the VDT is not being fair, and Rose accused the VDT of not printing the facts, but the facts are as follows:
-
Fathers teaching daughters
It began as a small gathering for fathers and daughters. It has become one of Valdosta’s most popular social events of the year.
Several years ago, Jeff Stewart co-founded the event with his wife, Becky, as a way for him to give a special night to his two daughters. Other fathers of First Presbyterian Church liked the idea and the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance was born. -
Sports tourneys: They will come
More than 20 years after its release, “Field of Dreams’” mantra, “If you build it, they will come,” has possibly become one of the most overused lines from any movie. Yet, it seems all too fitting for what’s been happening lately within the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority.
- More What We Think Headlines
-
Grading policy: A second chance?
