Chattooga County Schools have partnered with Family Connection, Primary HealthCare Centers, PeachState Health Plan, Chattooga County Community Resource Center, and the City of Summerville along with multiple individual volunteers to coordinate Home for Spring Break. “Home for Spring Break will provide information on community resources as well as information about things to do in the community during Spring Break as well as providing free food including fresh fruits and vegetables and more,” Chattooga County Schools Social Worker Michelle Floyd said.
The food will be distributed between 1:30-3:30 p.m. on March 26 at the Summerville Depot on East Washington Street. The food is a big part of the “Home For Spring Break” program.
Sheriff Mark Schrader spearheaded the food drive when the American Red Cross contacted him with a surplus of food left after Hurricane Irma and Harvey. The Red Cross was offering the food to communities across Georgia that could use it. “The sheriff said they could get pallets of food if we could use it. I contacted our Chattooga County Family Connection Coordinator, Vicky Vanpelt, and we began planning,” Floyd said.
“The food drive is a collaborative effort of many people. Once we found that we were eligible to receive the surplus food from the state, we began looking for organizations within the county that could benefit. We found Michelle Floyd at Chattooga High. She was instrumental in handling, storing and finding the use. I think it is a wonderful drive and I am very proud that the Sheriffs Office was able to be a part,” Sheriff Schrader said.
The food was free of charge, the Sheriff’s Office went to Cartersville to pick up the food and deliver it. Each pallet had 972 meals each for a total of 2,916 meals for those in Chattooga County that will receive it.
Susan Locklear helped arrange the use of the Depot, “as it is a central location that would give inside and outside access for resources and activities. It was also available for the date of the event and the city is happy to use it for such a service to our community,” Locklear said.
If you have any questions about Home for Spring Break contact , Michelle Floyd, Chattooga County Schools Social Worker, at 706-859-3040.
