Second Harvest of South Georgia

What Second Harvest of South Georgia does

Second Harvest of South Georgia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit regional food bank headquartered in Valdosta, Georgia, and the largest rural food bank in the state. Founded in 1982 as Unity Food Bank by Valdosta church volunteers, the organization rebranded to Second Harvest of South Georgia in 2000 and today serves 26 counties across roughly 12,000 square miles in south central and southwest Georgia through three branches (Valdosta, Thomasville, Tifton), a fleet of mobile food pantries, and a network of more than 400 partner agencies including churches, shelters, Boys & Girls Clubs, and public libraries. Its programs span core food distribution, Kids Café children's feeding, Mobile Food Pantry, Teachers' Harvest (a free school supply store), Farm to Family produce rescue, the USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program for seniors, Summer Feeding, and Southeast-region disaster relief staging.

The organization's technology footprint is intentionally lightweight: a Primarius-based partner portal (p2.feedingsga.org) handles agency inventory and ordering, while outreach runs through the feedingsga.org website, email newsletters, and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, YouTube, LinkedIn). Annual operational scale is substantial — approximately 21 million pounds of food distributed per year, 1.5-1.7 million pounds per month, and nearly 550,000 Kids Café meals served to children — with a stated efficiency of 8.77-9 meals per dollar received.

The business model is donation-driven rather than commercial. Revenue streams include financial donations (one-time and recurring via the Partners in Hope monthly program), in-kind food donations through the Product Recovery Program (retailers, wholesalers, processors, distributors), corporate partnerships and grants, USDA program reimbursements, and a small social enterprise (Port-A-Pit Catering). Partner agencies access food inventory by paying a per-pound shared maintenance fee that covers transportation and handling, while all food is ultimately distributed free of charge to end users. President & CEO Franklin J. Richards II has led the organization since 1993, and a $25 million capital campaign is underway as of 2024 to fund a new Valdosta headquarters.

Name

Second Harvest of South Georgia

Legal name

Second Harvest of South Georgia, Inc.

Website

https://feedingsga.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Second Harvest of South Georgia is a 501(c)(3) regional food bank headquartered in Valdosta, GA, serving 26 counties across 12,000 square miles. It distributes 21 million pounds of food annually through 400+ partner agencies and direct programs including Kids Café, Mobile Food Pantry, and disaster relief.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Bank Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

School Feeding & Child Nutrition Programs (BPADAJAD), Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Hunger relief programs
• Food distribution network
• Nonprofit meal programs
• Community food assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Valdosta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Financial Donations: One-time and recurring financial contributions from individuals and corporations. $1 provides approximately 8.77 meals. Includes monthly giving program (Partners in Hope) and tribute gifts.
2. Food Donations: Food donations from individuals through food drives and from retailers, wholesalers, processors, and distributors through the Product Recovery Program. All food is distributed free to end users through partner agencies.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Cause marketing campaigns, corporate sponsorships, grants from corporations and foundations for programs and operations. Includes employee volunteer matching programs.
4. Port-A-Pit Catering: Social enterprise catering service that generates revenue by providing catering services to area events, supporting the food bank mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Second Harvest of South Georgia is a regional food bank that collects donated food from retailers, wholesalers, processors, and distributors, then distributes it free of charge to food-insecure individuals and families across 26 counties in South Georgia. It operates multiple specialized feeding programs (Food Bank Distribution, Kids Café, Mobile Food Pantry, Teachers' Harvest, Farm to Family, CSFP, Product Recovery, Disaster Relief, and Summer Feeding Program) through a network of 400+ partner agencies and direct distribution channels.

Product overview

Second Harvest of South Georgia operates as a regional food bank offering a portfolio of hunger-relief programs rather than a unified software product. The core offering is the Food Bank Distribution program, which serves as the central platform distributing food through a network of partner agencies. Supporting programs include Kids Café (children's feeding), Mobile Food Pantry (mobile distribution), Teachers' Harvest (school supplies for educators), Farm to Family (produce rescue), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (senior boxes), Product Recovery Program (retail food rescue), Disaster Relief (emergency response), Summer Feeding Program (seasonal child nutrition), Partners in Hope (recurring donations), Port-A-Pit Catering (social enterprise), and the Agency Partner Network (partner agency management). These programs collectively form an integrated hunger-relief ecosystem serving 26 counties in South Georgia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kids Cafe: Children's feeding program providing meals after school and during school breaks, operating in Thomasville and Valdosta kitchens.
• Teachers' Harvest
• Farm to Family
• Mobile Food Pantry
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
• Port-A-Pit Catering
• Partners in Hope

Products and services

• Food Bank Distribution Core food distribution program that distributes food and groceries to food-insecure individuals and families across 26 counties in South Georgia through a network of 400+ partner agencies and direct branch distribution.
• Kids Café Children's feeding program providing nutritious meals and snacks to children after school and during school breaks including summer, with Thomasville and Valdosta kitchens preparing and delivering over 45,000 meals and snacks monthly to schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, and library sites.
• Mobile Food Pantry Mobile food distribution program using specialty trucks to bring non-perishable items and perishable items such as produce, dairy, and bread directly to underserved areas, migrant camps, and locations where residents lack transportation.
• Teachers' Harvest Free school supply store at the Valdosta branch for public school teachers, counselors, and media specialists working full-time in the 26-county service area, providing supplies and equipment donated by local and national businesses and the Kids in Need Foundation.
• Farm to Family Program that collects fresh produce donations from produce growers, packing sheds, and distributors for distribution through the food bank, Kids Café, and Mobile Food Pantry programs.
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Senior food box program that improves the health of low-income persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods.
• Product Recovery Program Program that rescues food from retailers, wholesalers, processors, and distributors and redistributes it to those in need across the service area.
• Disaster Relief Emergency response program that provides supplies such as water, food, and blankets and mobilizes resources quickly to affected areas within hours; serves as a disaster-relief staging site for the entire Southeast.
• Summer Feeding Program Program providing free nutritious meals and snacks to children across South Georgia during summer months when school meals are unavailable, operated in partnership with Happy Helpings and the USDA.
• Partners in Hope Monthly giving program that allows donors to contribute regularly to help feed those in need year-round.
• Port-A-Pit Catering Social enterprise catering service that generates revenue for the food bank by providing catering services for area events ranging from church suppers to cocktail parties.

Quantifiable outcome

• For every $1 received, distributes food equal to 8.77-9 meals
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Feeding AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational food bank network affiliation. Second Harvest of South Georgia is an affiliate member of Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest), providing access to national food rescue partnerships, resources, and best practices.
• Boys & Girls Club of ValdostacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for Kids Café program providing meals to children after school and during summer breaks. Kids Café began 30 years ago as an after-school partnership between Second Harvest and the Boys & Girls Club. Expanding to include Echols, Clinch, and Lanier campuses.
• Worth County Public Library SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer meal distribution partnership providing families with seven days of breakfast and lunch at a time. Includes Story Time and literacy activities.
• Crisp County Public Library SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer meal distribution partnership with educational activities including Story Time and literacy programs.
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Summer Feeding Program, providing free nutritious meals and snacks to children across South Georgia during summer months.
• Happy HelpingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Summer Feeding Program to provide free meals to children during summer break.
• Kids in Need FoundationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational foundation donating school supplies to Teachers' Harvest program for distribution to South Georgia teachers.
• Clinch County Emergency Management AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for wildfire relief efforts. Second Harvest acts as central collection point for donated food and supplies to support affected communities.
• Echols County Emergency Management AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for wildfire relief efforts. Second Harvest serves as central collection point for donated supplies.
• PublixminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner and logo displayed on website supporters list.
• WalmartminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner and logo displayed on website supporters list.
• State FarmminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner and logo displayed on website supporters list.
• AT&TminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner and logo displayed on website supporters list.
• Anthem Blue Cross Blue ShieldminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner and logo displayed on website supporters list.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National umbrella network of 200+ food banks; Second Harvest of South Georgia is an accredited member affiliate. Directly comparable because the parent network sets operational standards, supplies food, and provides fundraising infrastructure to all member food banks including Second Harvest.

Others

• Kids in Need Foundation: National nonprofit providing school supplies to under-resourced teachers; a named donor to Second Harvest's Teachers' Harvest program. Comparable as a complementary, partner-aligned peer in addressing rural educational and childhood poverty.
• No Kid Hungry (Share Our Strength): National anti-hunger nonprofit focused on childhood hunger and summer feeding programs, a major funder and partner for child-nutrition programs. Comparable as a thematic peer because Second Harvest's Kids Café and Summer Feeding programs operate in the same space and frequently partner with No Kid Hungry grantees.
• Happy Helpings (Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning): Georgia-administered Summer Food Service Program that funds summer meal providers including Second Harvest. Comparable as a public-sector funding/administrative counterpart that Second Harvest partners with for its Summer Feeding Program.

Direct peers

• Food Bank of Northeast Georgia: Regional Feeding America affiliate serving northeast Georgia counties. Directly comparable as a Georgia-based regional food bank with multi-county service area, partner agency distribution network, and children-feeding programs.
• Atlanta Community Food Bank: Largest food bank in Georgia and fellow Feeding America affiliate; distributes millions of pounds annually through a similar partner-agency model. Most directly comparable peer because it operates the same donation-funded food bank model in the same state and same network.
• Middle Georgia Community Food Bank: Regional Feeding America affiliate serving central Georgia counties through food distribution and partner agencies. Comparable as a same-state, same-network regional food bank with similar operational model and target population.

Regional players

• Golden Harvest Food Bank: Feeding America affiliate serving 30 counties across middle Georgia and South Carolina. Comparable as a multi-branch regional food bank operating in an adjacent southeastern geography with similar Kids Café and partner-agency distribution programs.
• Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida: Regional Feeding America affiliate serving southwest Florida. Comparable because of similar rural/suburban service geography, partner-agency distribution model, and child-nutrition programming, though operating in a different state.
• Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana: Multi-branch Feeding America affiliate serving central and southern Indiana. Comparable as a similarly sized regional food bank with mobile pantries, Kids Café–style children feeding, and CSFP programming, providing a useful size benchmark.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/secondharvest
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYGhJE8gcceRcaXFduTW9Aw
• Facebookfacebook.com/SecondHarvestSGA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/secondharvest
• Instagraminstagram.com/secondharvestsga

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Second Harvest of South Georgia