VALDOSTA — America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia Inc. will be giving away Thanksgiving food boxes to senior citizens Monday.

Distribution will begin at 8 a.m. and will continue while supplies last.

The boxes will be filled with non-perishable food items. There is a limit of one box per person.

The boxes will be handed out on a first come, first serve basis, said Shannon Taw Zapf, director of development for America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia Inc.

With the current economic situation, America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia Inc. — which may be better known by the locals as the Valdosta Food Bank — has experienced a surge in the number of people seeking food assistance, she said.

Taw Zapf believes the state of the economy, along with the number of people who have lost jobs and a recent cold snap, will result in more residents needing assistance from America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia Inc. during the holiday season.

Typically, cold weather months bring additional financial hardship, with increased utility bills and unexpected expenses for visits to the doctor and medication when senior citizens become ill.

Providing pantry staples — such as rice, peanut butter, grape juice, yams, peas, green beans and pasta — can help some seniors close the gap when they find themselves unable to afford those items at the grocery store, Taw Zapf said.

Thanksgiving boxes can be picked up Monday at America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia Inc. at 1411 Harbin Circle.

In 2007, some 300 boxes were distributed to help needy persons during the Thanksgiving holidays.

America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia Inc. has been distributing food boxes for more than 10 years.