Feeding the Gulf Coast receives more than 30,000 pounds of food in ‘America Gives’ campaign

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Feeding the Gulf Coast received a delivery of more than 30,000 pounds of food this morning to help families across the Gulf Coast.

The donation is part of the national “America Gives” campaign. The campaign is sending 250 truckloads of food to communities in every state as the country marks America’s 250th birthday.

Feeding the Gulf Coast will turn the donation into millions of meals across the region.

“All the pantry partners I was just talking about. It takes all those people to make this mission move. And an event like today with over 30,000 pounds of food just inspires us even further,” said Michael Ledger, CEO of Feeding the Gulf Coast.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated all of the food.

“Yeah, it’s wonderful to know that as a result of this, you know, that we might be able to ease someone’s burden. That as a result of this, somebody might get a little bit of hope. Might be able to concentrate on things other than just, you know, where their next meal is coming from,” said William Parkes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ledger said food insecurity becomes more challenging during the holidays.

“Food insecurity, the things that people face, especially in the holidays, becomes even more challenging. And, you know, we are trying to do something like 6,000 Thanksgiving meals across our service area. It’s a goal we’ve set the past few years. And with support like this, it becomes much more possible. So, we set lofty goals to help people so they can have the kind of Thanksgiving and kind of holidays that other people are fortunate enough to have. And this certainly will help us in that cause.”