United Way of Southwest Georgia’s Day of Action program

ALBANY, Ga. – Albany area non-profits have been buzzing throughout Friday morning thanks to the United Way’s Day of Action program. And, we got to speak with a couple of non-profits about the impact just a few extra hands have had.

Volunteers were dispatched to the likes of the Salvation Army, Lily Pad Sane Center, SOWEGA Council on Aging, and Feeding the Valley Food Bank…

And… at Feeding the Valley, they were incredibly thankful for the help they got packing boxes of food.

“We’ve already done three pallets, which that’s 78 boxes per pallet. So, in less than an hour, we’ve already done three pallets worth of food,” said Jay Cannon, Albany Facility Manager, Feeding the Valley.

In downtown Albany at the Salvation Army, volunteers came to help take care of quite a few things, with one in particular standing out.

“…And, we’ve received help in our apartment that we are transitioning the women that we serve in our shelter to the apartment as their new place to reside as they’re with us,” said Capt. Tasha Thomas, Commanding Officer, Albany Salvation Army.

Work like this is usually a large scale job, something that isn’t always able to be helped with each organization’s staff alone…

And… they’re thankful volunteers through the United Way were able to lend a few hands.

“We couldn’t do this without the volunteers from United Way. This Day of Action means a lot to Feeding the Valley. Because these volunteers are filling a lot of boxes that we as employees could not normally fill. So, the volunteer hours are very important to us so we can get the food out into the community at a larger volume,” said Cannon.

“…And, it’s really relieved a big burden for us. Because these are all things we’ve really wanted to do but we’ve been torn in different directions. So, this kind of help, this much help, all at one time has been very, very helpful,” said Capt. Thomas.

Groups like the Salvation Army and Feeding the Valley have been especially thankful for the help from the United Way as they’ve been able to make significant progress on work that might not have gotten done.

According to the United Way of Southwest Georgia, more than 60 people volunteered their time across the city of Albany Friday morning.

Brian Roche reporting.

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