More than 800 cars lined up for the Community Block Party at the Macon Mall on Wednesday. The event was sponsored by The Society of St. Andrew in partnership with the County’s Office of Small Business Affairs, The Mentor’s Project of Bibb County, Fort Valley State University, Macon Mental Health Matters, and others 

People were able to get free and fresh food, school supplies, work resources, and participate in family activities. Although it rained, that did not stop volunteers from supporting the cause and helping others. 

“Our nonprofit helps bridge the gap between good food going to waste and millions of Americans in poverty,” said The Society of St. Andrew Georgia Regional Director Angela Partain. “We work primarily with rescued fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it to the people in need at no charge. We aim to advance equity in low-income BIPOC communities across the state.” 

Thanks to donations from local farmers, the organization was able to share 40,000 pounds of peaches, watermelon, cucumbers, eggplant, onion, collards, and potatoes with the residents of Bibb and surrounding counties. That is equivalent to 160,000 servings of fruit and vegetables. 

The Mentor’s Project also distributed spiral notebooks, notebook paper, and composition books to about 1,000 children.  

“It was such a wonderful display of all the good coming together to benefit the community with no barriers! It was beautiful,” said Andrea Cooke with The Southern Center for Choice Theory and Macon Mental Health Matters. “We distributed stuffed animals for the littles, feelings magnets and information about the no cost mental health services. The engagement and the need were great!”