Montgomery, AL –The Department of Agriculture and Industries donated some 300 bunches of fresh picked collards, weighing an estimated 1,000 pounds to the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA). Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan said, “I am most grateful to Harold McLemore and several other department employees who donated their time and expertise that made this donation possible. It seems like perfect timing for this fine harvest of collards to be ready to share with those in need this week of Thanksgiving.”
Representatives from four feeding agencies that work with the Society of St. Andrew were on hand to receive this bountiful harvest. Representatives included Debbie Dobbins from Mary Ellen’s Hearth at Nellie Burge Community Center www.nellieburge.org , Barbara Johnson from the Holy Comforter Food Pantry www.holycomfort.org/pantry.htm, Tammy Middleton from the Friendship Mission www.friendshipmission.org and Chaplain Browder with Faith Crusades Ministries www.montgomeryrescuemission.org . These agencies will distribute or prepare and serve these collards this week.
The Society of St. Andrew is a national nonprofit hunger-relief organization that rescues 30-35 million pounds of fresh, nutritious, excess produce each year that would otherwise go to waste for various marketing reasons. This food is then distributed to critical feeding agencies across the country at no cost to the agencies or the hungry people they serve.
In Alabama, just this year alone, the Society of St. Andrew distributed 649,828 pounds of fresh food to people in need through 131 food banks, pantries, kitchens and other providers of food to the needy. With the help of 3,277 volunteers, the SoSA also gleaned 402,373 pounds of Alabama sweet potatoes to distribute through food banks and pantries.
SoSA provides this food for a little over two cents a serving. More than 95% of all funds raised by the Society of St. Andrew are spent on the direct delivery of food and services to the hungry. More than 700 million pounds of food have been saved and distributed since SoSA began in 1979.
For more information on the Society of St. Andrew visit www.endhunger.org.