Whole Foods donates refrigerated van to Second Harvest, kicks it off with 1,671-pound food donation

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia is expanding its ability to rescue and distribute fresh food after receiving a new refrigerated E-Transit van and Level 2 charging station from Whole Foods Market.

The donation was made through Whole Foods Market’s Nourishing Our Neighborhoods program, which supports food rescue organizations across North America.

To celebrate the new vehicle, team members from the Savannah Whole Foods Market filled the van with 1,671 pounds of donated food, including 689 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables and 982 pounds of essential non-perishable items, all destined for neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

Second Harvest CEO Miriam C. Langley said the donation will strengthen the organization’s ability to rescue and deliver nutritious food throughout Coastal Georgia.

“This refrigerated van and charging station will strengthen our ability to rescue fresh, nutritious food and deliver it quickly and safely within our service area,” Langley said. “Partnerships like this help us reduce food waste, expand access to healthy food, and ensure more children, families, and seniors receive the nourishment they need.”

Whole Foods Market officials say the new vehicle will not only increase the amount of rescued food that reaches local families but also help reduce emissions through the use of an electric vehicle.

The Nourishing Our Neighborhoods program launched in 2020 and has donated more than 100 refrigerated vans to food rescue partners across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia serves as the regional food bank for Coastal Georgia, supplying food to more than 247 nonprofit organizations and churches. The organization distributed more than 25.6 million pounds of food to people in need over the past year.