VALDOSTA – Greater Valdosta United Way is seeking food and hygienic supply donations to stock 12 mobile food pantries across the Valdosta area, including surrounding counties.

The non-profit organization originally placed the pantries across the county at key businesses and partner nonprofits starting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greater Valdosta United Way receives food from Second Harvest of South Georgia and stores non-perishable and shelf safe items like granola bars and canned goods in the pantries.

“It’s important to get the food closer to where the people are. There are people that have a hard time getting around Valdosta or the different communities like the ones over in Brooks County or Lanier,” Michael Smith, the GVUW president, said in an interview Tuesday afternoon.

He said the pantries have been very successful since their placements. However, organization leaders have witnessed a rise in need of more food donations and hygienic items.

“One thing we’ve seen is a huge need in hygiene products, especially female hygiene,” Smith said.

Toiletries such as tissue or deodorant have also been requested at the drop off locations.

The non-profit organization recently studied financial hardship throughout Georgia with a tool known as ALICE, which stands for Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed.

“Out of 3.95 million households in Georgia, over 1.8 million – 47% – had income below the ALICE Threshold of Financial Survival in 2021,” according to the report.

The report’s recent data showed that the ALICE Threshold has worsened since 2021 creating sustained high levels of food insufficiency, limited saving and assets, continued difficulty paying bills and feelings of anxiety and depression.

Smith shared the importance of food services or pantry invitations. He said, “Right now, the cost of groceries is so high and bills are challenges. There’s a lot of people that are food insecure. There are challenges where there’s more bills than money, especially at the end of the month.”

People of all backgrounds could be suffering from food scarcity including the elderly or the medically fragile, the working-class, families with infants and children, and homeless individuals.

“We’re seeing a lot of hard-working class people and families that are struggling more than ever just to make the basic needs,” Smith said.

Cheryl Cole, an academic coach and English Language Arts teacher at Crossroads Baptist School, is a sponsor for the school’s Rota Cadet club. Her Rota Cadet students first introduced the donation idea during a club meeting last year.

Since then, they have visited GVUW pantry locations once a month since early 2023 to make donations.

“Our generous parents donate the items we stock the pantries with. The kids get to see first hand how important this project is because we very rarely show up to fill a pantry that isn’t totally empty,” Cole said. “I think through this, our kids learn compassion for others by seeing a world outside their own. We discuss how someone’s circumstances in life may differ from your own, but we as human beings are no different than those we help.”

Donations for food, toiletries or hygiene items, excluding razors, are welcome to be dropped off at the Greater Valdosta United Way, located at 1609 North Patterson Street. Contact the office at 229-242-2208 for more information.

Greater Valdosta United Way Local Food Pantry Locations

Valdosta has up to 12 free outdoor pantries. Donations of non-perishable foods, personal hygiene items (excluding razors) and toiletries are accepted to help people experiencing food insecurity or homelessness.

1. Scintilla:

130 West Central Avenue

Valdosta, GA 31601

Downtown near First Baptist Church

2. Miller Hardware (Whitehead)

211 East Hill Avenue

Valdosta, GA 31601

(229) 244-0924

3. Salvation Army:

320 Smithland Place

Valdosta, GA 31601

(229) 232-4724

4. The Haven Administrative Office:

1807 Plum Street

Remerton, GA

(229) 244-1765

5. Partnership Health Center:

520 Griffin Avenue

Valdosta, GA 31601

(229) 245-0020

6. Southside Recreation Center:

604 S. Oak Street

Valdosta, GA 31601

(229) 242-6764

9. Wyche Park (Hahira)

W. Main Street (Near Hall Street)

Hahira, GA 31632

Contact City Hall for more info.

(229) 794-2330

10. Lee & Pickles Drug Store

302 E. Screven Street

Quitman, GA 31643

(229) 263-4061

11. Youth Impact Center

W Murrell Ave.

Lakeland, GA 31635

(386) 984-6304

12. Children’s Advocacy Center

3325 Skipper Bridge Road

Valdosta, GA 31605

(229) 245-5364

431 E. Dennis Ave.

Nashville, GA 31639

(229) 245-5362