STATESBORO, Ga. — On Saturday morning, a large crowd gathered at Statesboro High School for the annual Feed the Boro event, a cherished community initiative aimed at providing food to those in need.

Celebrating its fifth year, Feed the Boro has been instrumental in supporting families across Bulloch County, delivering over 3.5 million meals each November throughout its history. This year, Richard McCombs, a board member of the organization, observed that attendees arrived earlier than ever before, highlighting the growing demand.

“In these challenging times, with economic uncertainties and disruptions in benefits due to shutdowns, the need is greater than ever,” McCombs explained.

With a goal of distributing 1,000 meals, McCombs emphasized that the event welcomes everyone without judgment. Many attendees were collecting meals not just for themselves but also for neighbors, family members unable to leave their homes, and others in need of assistance.

“Many people here are part of the working poor, juggling two or three jobs just to make ends meet,” he noted. “Others face tough choices between food and medicine, which is a daily struggle for a significant portion of our community.”

McCombs says he wants to be able to help with some of the needs his community has.