Feed the Boro (FTB) volunteers braved freezing temperatures to hold their Thanksgiving food drop on Saturday, November 19, 2022 in partnership with Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. The Kiwanis Club of Statesboro sponsored the food distribution and hosted it at the Kiwanis Ogeechee fairgrounds.
Feed the Boro volunteers coordinate the monthly food drops and have distributed more than one million meals through these drops. The Thanksgiving and Christmas drops are two of the largest and draw the biggest crowds.
Saturday's drop was no exception. By hosting it at the fairgrounds, volunteers could count cars coming into the parking lot, unlike when it is hosted at SHS and cars wrap around the school for miles.
A little after 6 AM FTB volunteers determined they had reached capacity and cut off the lines for additional cars. Bulloch County Sheriff's deputies were on hand helping provide security and traffic control for the event and blocked the entrances of the fairgrounds. Volunteers estimate several hundred families came to the fairgrounds only to be turned away.
Some of the first citizens through the line had spent the night in their cars waiting for food. Many of them arrived just after midnight.
When Christopher Wiggins, President of the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro arrived at 3 AM he reported several hundred cars. Wiggins came early to open restrooms for citizens waiting and to assist with the drop.
Testing the Fairground as a drop site
The Kiwanis Club of Statesboro hosted the food drop as a test of the fairgrounds. There were many advantages of holding the drop. Being able to estimate the number of participants and preventing traffic congestion at the high school was another.
"The Kiwanis Club of Statesboro were pleased we could sponsor and host the food drop. The demand for food was overwhelming. Seeing families camping out overnight for food really demonstrates how critical the need is," said Christopher Wiggins, President of the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro. "I felt the fairgrounds parking lot worked very well for the drop. I am thankful that everyone who waiting in line for food received food."
Moving back to SHS
The next food drop is scheduled for December 10, 2022 at Statesboro High School. CLick here to volunteer for the next drop.
