VALDOSTA — Second Harvest of South Georgia, Inc. will distribute food boxes to senior citizens on Monday, Nov. 23. The food bank, located at 1411 Harbin Circle, will have Thanksgiving food boxes available from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m., said Shannon Taw Zapf, director of development for SHSG.

There is a limit of one box per household, and those picking up the food must have photo identification available for verification, she said.

The Thanksgiving food boxes can help seniors living on a fixed income maintain a well-balanced diet and good health this holiday season, Taw Zapf said. Cold weather months often bring additional financial hardship, with increased utility bills and unexpected expenses for doctor visits and medication when seniors become ill, she added.

SHSG, which may be better known by locals as the Valdosta Food Bank, has been distributing food boxes since 1993, Taw Zapf said. The food boxes will include USDA staples like rice, peanut butter, grape juice, pasta and canned goods, as well as some fresh fruit and produce while supplies last, she said.

SHSG has experienced a surge in the number of people seeking food assistance in recent years, Taw Zapf said. She believes the state of the economy, along with an increase in the number of unemployed and the onset of cold weather, will result in more residents needing food and other types of assistance this holiday season.

To volunteer at Second Harvest of South Georgia or for more information, please call (229) 244-2678, ext. 237, or visit www.ashga.org.