b'Deployment: Georgia National Guard soldiers are a crucial part of mass food distribution efforts. Photo By Wes SewellDuring the COVID-19 Before each food distribution, approximately 2,000 pantry boxes have to be54 millionpandemic, more thanassembled, and more than 250,000 pounds of food are loaded and transported to the site.Americans are expected We are now using a minimum of 50 National Guard members for the bigto face food insecuritydistributions, says McCall. During the week, we have about 10 to 15 helping build the pantry boxes. Second Harvest of South McCall estimates 50,000 pantry boxes have been distributed since the start ofGeorgia works withthe COVID-19 pandemic.400Normally, Second Harvest of South Georgia operates with 35 full- and part- nonprofitstime staff, plus hundreds of volunteers throughout the year; however, COVID-19 restrictions halted the use of volunteers.throughoutWe appreciate Gov. Kemp providing the National Guard and need to keep them,26 countiessays McCall. Even trying to hire workers would cost us about $5,000 a day to replicate the labor cost.Every dollar donated toWhile Second Harvest of South Georgia relies on federal assistance, grants, andSecond Harvest of South food donations from more than 90 national companies, individual and corporateGeorgia providesmonetary donations allow the food bank to continue its mission to feed South8.77 mealsGeorgias low-income families and children.For every dollar we receive, we can distribute food equivalent of 8.77 meals, sheto families in needsays. This money helps fill in the gaps so that we can keep our doors open.BUSINESS + CULTURE 17'