MILLEN, GA - March will be here before you know it, and with it the annual SEPC’s Southern Exposure conference. On the way to preparing for the big event, SEPC is also taking the time to give back to its local charitable organizations.
This past November, the southeast-based organization joined with its non-profit community partners, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in Georgia, Rockin’ Appalachian Mom Project (RAMP) in Kentucky, and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Florida, to make this season extra charitable.
“Our community outreach program is a large part of who we are as an organization,” explained David Sherrod, SEPC Executive Director. “Supporting our local communities and educating them on the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables is our way of giving back and taking care of the local people we live, work and do life with.”
On November 7, SEPC sponsored the 31st Annual Strong Legs Run for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta joining together to provide fresh produce, smoothies, and volunteer hours. Fighting against childhood obesity and educating the public about the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables, SEPC sponsors of the event included DNE World Fruit Sales, Nickey Gregory Company, General Produce, Bayshore Produce, Flavor Pic Tomato, Sysco, Herndon Farms and San Miguel Produce. The SEPC is also a proud supporter of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong 4 Life race in the spring and year round with financial support, according to a press release.
This past November 13, with the help of its members and support of the Society of St. Andrew, the SEPC donated 40,000 pounds of fresh produce in an effort to help feed 500 impoverished families in Martin County, Kentucky for Thanksgiving. Rural Appalachia is one of the most impoverished regions in the United States, and access to healthy food and economic opportunity in Martin County is scarce, a press release explains. With the help of members like Nickey Gregory Company, L&M Companies, Southern Valley, and Mack Farms as consolidation points, the SEPC was able to provide some of the following to families in need:
- Sweet potatoes (L&M Companies)
- Tomatoes (DiMare Fresh)
- Grapes, oranges, carrots, onions, kiwi, broccoli, butternut squash (Nickey Gregory Company)
- Red potatoes (Black Gold Farms)
- Cabbage, cucumbers, squash, bell peppers, zucchini (Southern Valley)
- Potatoes, onions (Mack Farms)
- Apples (Yakima Fresh)
The SEPC will also be providing financial support this holiday season for Martin County’s school Back Pack program to provide food and resources need for children.
Furthermore, on November 21, the SEPC rounded out the month with a sponsorship supporting the Fall Classic 5K race to benefit the Bone Marrow Unit at Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital. Through product donations (apples from Nickey Gregory Company), volunteer time, and financial support, the event supported the goal of building a stem cell transplant and cellular therapy program to lead the way to pediatric cancer and cellular therapy care in Florida and the southeast.
To find out more about the SEPC’s community outreach efforts or to get involved, visit seproducecouncil.com.
