DJJ “Restocks the Shelves” to Provide Food Assistance to Local Communities

The Department of Juvenile Justice’s (DJJ) “Restock the Shelves ‘18” was a great success. From February 15 to March 15, DJJ employees participated in a statewide campaign to collect non-perishable food and toiletry items to combat hunger in local communities. The campaign provided staff members the opportunity to help local food banks replenish their supplies after the busy holiday and winter seasons.

Central Office employees collected 415 items, equivalent to 345 meals. The office had a friendly competition to see which floor could donate the most items. The first floor was declared the winner! Employees at the Martha K. Glaze Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) successfully met their goal of donating 200 items. Atlanta YDC employees also collected several boxes of goods. The donations will stay in the area where they were collected to maximize the benefit in the community.

“DJJ employees went above and beyond in coming together to provide food assistance to those in need. Nearly one-in-five Georgians are unsure where their next meal will come from,” said Commissioner Avery D. Niles. “I am proud of my staff for their continued generosity.”

DJJ’s Office of Volunteer Services also worked with community partners to increase the number of collection boxes. As they have done previously, youth in DJJ’s care also participated by bringing their donations to community services offices around the state.

DJJ remains committed to giving back to the communities they serve. The canned food and toiletry items collected were given to the following “partner” food banks across Georgia:

•     Albany – Food Bank of Southwest Georgia – 912-883-2139

•     Athens – Food Bank of Northeast Georgia – 706-354-8191

•     Atlanta – Atlanta Community Food Bank – 404-892-9822

•     Augusta – Golden Harvest Food Bank – 706-736-1199

•     Columbus – Feeding the Valley – 706-561-0896

•     Dalton-NW Chattanooga Area Food Bank—706-508-8591

•     Macon – Middle Georgia Community Food Bank – 478-742-3958

•     Savannah – America’s Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal Georgia – 912-236-6750

•     Valdosta – Valdosta Food Bank – 912-244-2678

•     Georgia Mountain Food Bank—Hall, Lumpkin, Forsyth, Dawson and Union counties –770-534-4111