CO M M U N I T Y
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From left, Jordan Gilbert and Allen Corbin, Southwest Georgia Farm Credit; Eliza McCall, Second Harvest; and Corey Cottle, AgGeorgia.
Homegrown Help
Neighbors
Helping
Neighbors
STORY COMPILED BY KRISTEN KENNEDY | PHOTOS COURTESY OF AGGEORGIA
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n the modern times of fast food, "get it your way right away," buy here, ship there, prepackaged, conveniently frozen, preserved for extended shelf life, and the click of a button away, the term "homegrown" has seemingly lost its significance. However, the uncertainties created by the pandemic has created an urgency and desire for words like "homegrown" again. No one expected food banks, farmers, and corporate donors to join forces in the 20th century, yet that is very much the case. A local "help" initiative was spearheaded with a simple phone call by Corey Cottle of AgGeorgia when he reached out to Second Harvest of South Georgia, concerned about the possible impacts and repercussions of Covid-19. Corey Cottle, Director of Marketing for AgGeorgia, has worked with Eliza McCall, Chief Marketing Officer of Second Harvest of South Georgia, on more than one occasion.
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Valdosta Magazine
"When the pandemic hit, we began to hear of schools closing for months, restaurants forced to close their doors, and people being ordered to shelter in place. We realized the logistics of our country were about to change, and our produce farmers were going to be affected significantly. Without restaurants, schools, and grocery stores to supply, who would they sell their products to?" That is when Cottle made the call to McCall. "We want to look hard at how we could contribute to both families and farmers in need," said Cottle. Since Second Harvest is the leading hunger-relief organization in the region and the second-largest food bank in the state, they were the first point of contact. Serving nearly 12,000 square miles, 26 counties, and more than 400 partner agencies through a variety of programs including the Food Bank, Kids Cafe, Mobile Food Pantry, and Teachers' Harvest, among others, the three branches located in Valdosta, Thomasville, and Tifton are in high demand.
