As some local families continue to deal with food insecurities during the coronavirus pandemic, the Valdosta Police Department is stepping up to be part of the solution by collecting food that will be donated to the Living Bridges Ministry sack lunch program.

The police department is collecting specific non-perishable food items that can be dropped off in the Police Department Lobby collection box located at 500 North Toombs Street or to Living Bridges Ministry at 111 East Adair Street. Food can be dropped off during regular business hours.

Items needed include:

• cans of beef stew
• cornbread mix
• cookie/brownie mix
• family size cans of soup
• boxed mac n cheese
• chicken/hamburger helper meals
• canned vegetables
• canned fruits
• graham crackers
• saltine/ritz crackers
• jars of peanut butter
• jars of grape/strawberry jelly
• spaghetti noodles
• fettuccine noodles
• spaghetti/fettuccine sauces
• cans of baked beans
• cans of pizza sauce
• boxed cereals
• instant oatmeal/instant grits

“We are always trying to build relationships between the Police Department and the Community. This is one way we can give back by partnering with a local organization to help those in need during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said Community Policing Officer, Randall Hancock.

The sack lunch program began as a way to serve local families with meals during unplanned school closures in March due to the pandemic. The program quickly grew from 116 people served during the first event to an average of 700 people served now each week.

“To have the opportunity in a crisis to respond and help give people a simple meal who otherwise maybe wouldn’t be able to afford one is a huge blessing. We are hopeful that what we are doing is building relationships with the people we serve. We hope that in the future they will participate in programs we offer and their lives will be changed,” said Darcy Gunter, Director of Adult and Children’s Ministries.

So far the sack lunch program has served 51,000 meals to local families in need. The drive thru program serves lunches in the front yard of the Living Bridges Ministry Community Center located at 111 E Adair Street on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The program is scheduled to run through August 26, 2020.

For more information on the sack lunch program you can call 229-234-7427 or visit www.livingbridgesministry.org.