[PHOTOSTORY 4: STRUGGLE] Statesboro Food Bank

By: Ashley Watts

Sign outside of the food bank of Statesboro. The food bank strives to prevent food insecurity in the area.

Signs posted outside of the sorting room. The food bank is funded by United Way and is open to Bulloch county residents who qualify for food stamps.

 

Jodi Brannon, operations director of the food bank, directs a volunteer unpacking food items. Jodi has worked at the food bank for almost 12 years.

A volunteer prepares food bags for those in need. The food bank accepts volunteers Monday through Friday from 11a.m. to 3p.m. and even partners with Georgia Southern's Serve912 club.

The sorting board at the food bank. Jodi uses this to organize what each family gets in their bags.

A volunteer setting down a box on the dolly. They use the dolly to sit boxes on while they check expiration dates.

Doodles done by the volunteers on the whiteboard in the sorting room. Jodi started at the food bank as an interim manager, and still holds the position after 11 years.

Jodi helps the volunteers check expiration dates on bread items. Local businesses such as Walmart, Food World, Aldi, and Pizza Hut donate items to the food bank.

Boxes waiting to be sorted. Most of the bread products they received had to be thrown away because they were already five days past their expiration date.

Volunteers move boxes off of the dolly. After the items are sorted they can start to pack the bags and boxes for families.

A volunteer sorts which bread products can be salvaged.
"Most of these are expired on 6/7 so they can't be distributed."

The box of bread products that are still good is moved to the sorting table. The food bank tries to provide each family with items to meet the USDA My Plate nutritional requirements.

A volunteer packs bags for those in need. Once the family calls and lets the food bank know they are outside, the volunteers bring out their groceries for curbside pickup.

The volunteers double check that each box is correct. It is important they ration the food correctly so that there is enough for each family.

The volunteers check with Jodi to be sure the boxes are packed correctly. Next they will take the dolly outside to help the family load up.

Empty boxes on the table after the bags are packed. The volunteers will later reuse these boxes.

The volunteers start to break down some of the extra boxes. They will store the boxes until they are later needed to transport more donations.

Boxes sorted out for each family. The food bank is curbside pickup only and the volunteers help those in need load up their groceries.

A volunteer answers a call on the phone. The food bank regularly receives calls regarding how to sign up for food assistance with the bank.

The volunteer begins taking down the caller's information to get them into their system. 
"How many people are in your household?"