Golden Harvest opens new Produce Rescue Center in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Golden Harvest in Augusta is opening the doors to a new Produce Rescue Center that will help feed those in need.

On Aug. 15, at 8:30 a.m., Golden Harvest Food Bank will open its doors to the community for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Produce Rescue Center, located at 3301 Commerce Drive.

This special event will bring together community leaders, elected officials, and compassionate neighbors who share a commitment to fighting hunger.

The new center will serve as a vital lifeline for over 350 hunger relief organizations and programs that provide food assistance to those in need. It will also become a welcoming space for thousands of volunteers each month, whose generosity and dedication are at the heart of the Food Bank’s mission to alleviate hunger.

This project was made possible through an initial grant award of $3.7 million by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs in partnership with the City of Augusta through CARES Act funding.

This award was driven by a deep commitment to expanding the Food Bank’s capacity to serve. The new Produce Rescue Center is designed to significantly increase the distribution of fresh produce, meat, and dairy products to Golden Harvest’s partner agencies and clients across its 11,000-square-mile service area, covering 25 counties.

The center will also house Golden Harvest’s Community Impact Team, a group dedicated to ensuring that food reaches those who need it most. The goal is to have more hands on deck to get fresher produce to the community quicker.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and their visionary investment in the food bank network across the state, increasing capacity and impact to those facing food insecurity,” says Amy Breitmann, President & CEO, of Golden Harvest Food Bank. “We are also grateful for the private investors who have come alongside us to close the fundraising gap, bringing to life the reality of this new facility that will drastically increase our impact across our 25-county service area.”

Key features of the new center include large cold storage units that will increase the Food Bank’s fresh produce distribution exponentially. A dedicated volunteer space will ensure that every item is carefully sorted, inspected, and delivered with the respect our neighbors deserve. Expanded office space will provide more than 7,000 square feet for Golden Harvest’s staff and community partners to collaborate, learn, and grow together in service.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, community members and the press are invited to tour the new Produce Rescue Center to see firsthand how it will enhance Golden Harvest’s ability to meet the needs of the community.

It’s a project that is two years in the making.

In April, News 12 got a first look at some of the center’s progress.

The new center will introduce a new world of fresh food options for people across the area and help fill the food desert gap.

In their current space, Golden Harvest is able to distribute about a million pounds of fresh produce a year. Across the street at the new produce rescue center, their goal is to bump up to about two and a half million pounds.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.