SNELLVILLE – Snellville has a long history of helping people who are struggling to put food on the table.
For a number of years, Snellville residents and businesses have contributed food and financial donations through their churches, schools and the "Give Hunger the Boot" program.
City residents and businesses will be participating in a new program known as the "GwMA/GDOS Food Drive." Organized by the Gwinnett Municipal Association, in cooperation with the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services' "Great Days of Service" initiative, the food drive will culminate Oct. 21 and 22, the official "Great Days of Service."
"For many families in Gwinnett County, hunger is an ongoing problem," GwMA Executive Director Randy Meacham said. "Helping those families through their local co-ops is nothing new for our member cities so the GwMA/GDOS Food Drive is just the latest effort to not only raise donations, but to increase awareness of needs throughout the county. Those needs exist year around and GwMA will be launching other new programs to help provide year around support."
Considering the prosperity that is found throughout Gwinnett County, many people are surprised to learn that families are still struggling to put food on the table. Fortunately, food co-ops throughout the county offer assistance. One of the most efficiently run co-ops is the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative which serves families in Snellville. Participants in the GwMA/GDOS Food Drive include the cities of Berkeley Lake, Duluth, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Loganville, Norcross, Peachtree Corners, Snellville, Sugar Hill and Suwanee. In addition to local volunteers, councilmembers Keith Roche of Lawrenceville, Rey Martinez of Loganville, Dave Emanuel of Snellville, Marc Cohen of Sugar Hill and Linnea Miller of Suwanee are serving as coordinators for their respective cities.
"In addition to raising donations, it's also important to increase awareness that throughout the county, many families are still struggling financially, and that hunger is still a problem," Emanuel said. "I'm honored to have been asked to chair the GwMA/GDOS Food Drive and have the opportunity to work with representatives from other cities who are helping their communities."
In Snellville, food donations can be dropped off at a number of locations including City Hall, the Public Works Department, United Community Bank and Gwinnett Animal Hospital. Give Hunger the Boot financial donation boxes are located at Main Street Restaurant, Fast Signs, United Community Bank, Mellow Mushroom and SarahCare.