Middle GA non-profits join forces to feed those in need

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — With boxes and bags of food stacked inside, those in need formed a line that wrapped the building and went out the front door Wednesday afternoon, as several local non-profits came together to feed families in Warner Robins. Many hands came together to make the food pantry possible, and many hands were able to benefit from the work.

The two leading groups on the food pantry were local organizations Suffering in Silence and Closing the Gap of Middle Georgia. The event was held in the Curtis Event Center, on Watson Boulevard.

Suffered in Silence Founder C’josette Joseph said that her organization was present to give back to the community.

“We’re getting so many phone calls about families in need of food; it’s kind of like a mini-crisis situation. We took it upon ourselves to make it happen,” Joseph said.

Suffered in Silence Organizer Daniella Edmund commented as well, adding that she sees a need for assistance regularly.

“On a daily basis, I will probably see three, fours calls with somebody saying, ‘I need food, I need help with lights, I need help with this.’ Like she said, it’s a crisis,” Edmund said. “For this community to come together and have this is good, and for us to constantly keep having it. We want to feed the community.”

Both Joseph and Edmund helped to pass out boxes of food to people in line.

Closing the Gap President Allen Williams, who transported the food early that morning so that it could be boxed and bagged, said his organization got involved to assist those in need.

“Closing the Gap, we do a lot of work in the community,” Williams said. “We like dealing with the community, and we notice that there’s a lot of people that like us — we try to fill in where they miss.”

Assisting Suffering in Silence and Closing the Gap were representatives from two other groups: Pink STEM and the 100 Black Men of Warner Robins interest group. Pink STEM Founder Tamika Ray-Head worked at the front of the line, taking in new visitors and helping them fill out the necessary paperwork. 100 Black Men President Harrison Head, Jr., helped transport food boxes and meat bags from the event center to visitors’ vehicles.

All those involved worked together to better their community, provide for those in need, and create a moment of harmony amongst each of their individual groups’ missions.

“I appreciate the comradery and the partnerships we’ve formed in this building to make this happen,” Joseph said. “We all have one common goal, and that is to make sure our community is a-okay.”

Those who arrived to receive food were asked how many people were in each of their homes, and then given between one and three boxes of food to accommodate their needs. Each box was filled with nutrient necessities, and bags of meat — chicken, beef, fish, even hotdogs and ready-to-cook meals — were given out in equal number as well.

Suffered in Silence is a local non-profit that works with veterans and other underserved populations to assist them in bettering their lives. You can find more information on them and their events at sufferedinsilence.org, or by visiting their social media pages under their name, “Suffered in Silence.”

Closing the Gap of Middle Georgia is a group focused assisting children in low-income, high-crime areas, and providing them pathways in educational, artistic and personal development. You can learn more about them at their website, closingthegapmidga.com, or by visiting their social media pages under the name “Closing the Gap of Mid GA.”

Pink STEM is a middle Georgia non-profit that works specifically with young girls in the education system to help them break through systemic barriers in STEM fields, and provide them with opportunities to seek careers in the same area. You can learn more about what they do at their website, pinkstem.org, or by visiting their social media pages under the same name, “Pink STEM.”

100 Black Men of America is a nationwide organization focused on the betterment and mentorship of Black men, to improve the quality of life within their communities, to be a “beacon of leadership,” and they ensure the intellectual development and economic empowerment of African American communities all over the country — their Warner Robins interest group is an organization working on developing a foothold in the community. You can learn more about 100 Black Men of America by visiting their website, 100blackmen.org.

Finally, this event would not have been possible without sponsorship — a group providing the funds to purchase the food, so that these non-profits could help distribute it. The Bank of Dudley’s Houston County division stepped up to assist. Dudley’s Vice President Market Leader Anthony Hayes told The Journal a little bit about why:

“The Bank of Dudley has been around since 1905, and we’ve survived through those numbers of years by focusing on the community, at the number of communities that we’re active and involved in,” Hayes said. “Houston County is a Market that we’ve always served, but somewhere from afar. Now we’re looking to have a more focused approach to providing resources and having our presence, just being sure we’re playing our role in making this community a success, and meeting those that are lesser privileged.”

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