What began as a response to community needs following Hurricane Helene has grown into an ongoing effort to help provide food to families throughout Jeff Davis County. Thursday’s Second Harvest Mobile Food Pantry at Hazlehurst Church of God marked the eighth mobile food pantry hosted by the church since immediately following Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024.
Hazlehurst Church of God Pastor Hugh Anderson said the church has continued to strengthen its relationship with Second Harvest and considers the opportunity to help bring needed resources into the community a privilege. “We believe it’s our responsibility to be the hands and feet of Jesus when it’s 100 degrees or 32!” Anderson said.
But Anderson emphasized that the effort takes more than one church or organization. He expressed appreciation to Jeff Davis Hospital for providing volunteers to help with Thursday’s distribution and said additional churches, organizations and community partners are always welcome to become involved. “We are so thankful for community partners like JDH who would come and give their time to help us host this event,” Anderson said. “We truly cannot do it all on our own.” And the work is already continuing. Anderson said organizers are preparing for their “Thanksgiving BACK” in November, with plans to provide food to hundreds of families ahead of the holiday season.
Following Thursday’s distribution, Jeff Davis Hospital shared its perspective on the partnership and why serving the community extends beyond providing healthcare inside the hospital:
At Jeff Davis Hospital, caring for our community extends far beyond the walls of our hospital. We believe that improving the health and well-being of our neighbors means addressing the many factors that impact a person’s quality of life—including access to nutritious food.
Yesterday, Jeff Davis Hospital was proud to partner with Good Ground and Second Harvest for a mobile food distribution serving families throughout our community. This collaborative effort brought together local organizations, hospital team members, and community volunteers with one shared goal: making sure families have access to the food and resources they need.
Food insecurity can affect individuals and families in every community, and having reliable access to nutritious food plays an important role in overall health. By coming together to provide resources close to home, we can help ease some of the challenges families may face and strengthen the community we all call home.
We are especially grateful to the Jeff Davis Hospital team members and community volunteers who generously gave their time to help unload, organize, and distribute food. Their willingness to serve and lend a helping hand is a wonderful reflection of the compassion and commitment that makes our community so special.
Partnerships like this are a reminder that when local organizations work together, we can accomplish so much more. Good Ground, Second Harvest, Jeff Davis Hospital, and our dedicated volunteers each played an important role in making today’s distribution possible.
At Jeff Davis Hospital, we are honored to be part of a community that looks out for one another. Whether we are caring for patients inside the hospital or working alongside community partners to meet needs outside our walls, our mission remains the same: to care for the health and well-being of the people we serve.
We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with organizations that share our commitment to our community, and we look forward to continuing to find meaningful ways to serve our neighbors.
Together, we are more than a hospital—we are a community partner, and we are proud to care beyond our walls.
