Southeastern Federal Credit Union has teamed up with Harveys Supermarkets for the inaugural Fill-a-Truck for Hunger Food Drive to benefit local Feeding America affiliate, Second Harvest of South Georgia. Southeastern FCU is challenging the communities they serve to fill an entire tractor-trailer full of food donations, and if successful, Southeastern will match with a second donated tractor-trailer of food.

"Most people think they'd have to cross an ocean to see hunger, but they only have to cross town. South Georgia has the highest rates of hunger and poverty in the state,” says Second Harvest of South Georgia Chief Marketing Officer Eliza McCall. “We are so excited about this Fill-a-Truck for Hunger campaign because we know thousands of families will be touched by the food collected during the month."

Nine local Harveys stores will accept donations through September 16 for the cause. This includes Harveys stores in Quitman, Hahira, Nashville, Lakeland, Adel, Tifton, Ocilla, and Fitzgerald, Georgia. Harveys customers who make a donation before September 1 will receive a Buy One Get One Free ticket offer from Wild Adventures valid Labor Day weekend.

Southeastern FCU will officially kick-off the food drive on Labor Day, Monday, September 1, at Wild Adventures Theme Park. The kick-off event is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and will include a presentation from Harveys of a $10,000 donation to Second Harvest of South Georgia. Wild Adventures will offer BOGO ticket admission during Labor Day weekend to customers who bring a non-perishable food donation to the park.

“We are very excited to be apart of this inaugural event and work together with our local community to help alleviate hunger,” stated Harveys Regional Vice President Jimmy Purvis. “Harveys is committed to fighting hunger and has made this initial donation to not only show our commitment to the program and the fight against hunger, but to also challenge our community to stand up and help make a significant donation to Second Harvest of South Georgia.”

Non-perishable food donations can be made throughout the month of September, also known as Hunger Action Month, by visiting any one of Southeastern FCU's five branch locations. This includes Southeastern's three Valdosta branches, Moody Air Force Base branch, and Tifton branch off North Tift Avenue.

Mike Gudely, Southeastern FCU President/CEO, says “I am so proud of this effort by both our credit union and Harveys Supermarkets. In the credit union world, we think of our business as people helping people. This food drive gives our community the opportunity to be part of 'people helping people' on a grand scale."

In addition to in-branch collections, Southeastern FCU will host the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours event at their headquarters on Tuesday, September 9th from 5 to 7 p.m. Local Chamber members and businesses are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations to the event.

The VSU Greek Life community has taken on Fill-a-Truck for Hunger as their campus-wide fall community service project. All twenty VSU Greek organizations will compete for the "Golden Can" trophy awarded to the organization that collects the most donations. Collection bins will be available in VSU residence halls and the VSU Student Union the first three weeks of September. The final on-campus donation pick-up will take place Friday, September 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the VSU University Center parking lot.

Media sponsors for the food drive include WCTV News and Black Crow stations Hot 102.7 and 95.7 The Mix. For more information or to learn how you or your organization can get involved, visit www.southeasternfcu.org or call Marketing Manager Courtney Gooding at 229-293-1266.