Augusta YMCA Meal Sites Grow to 48 Spots, Stepping Up Fight Against Child Hunger

The Augusta YMCA expanded its free meal sites to 48 locations in Georgia and South Carolina. This marks a big jump from last year's 26 sites.

Each day, workers serve about 5,000 meals to young people 18 and under through Cheryl's Kitchen. In 2024, they served more than half a million meals to local youth.

"The food program started at a school in a school lunch room, and we had our staff and volunteers making sandwiches at a school, and it grew from there," said Amber Henry, finance and food program director, to WRDW.

Staff at the main YMCA office pack fresh meals daily, with plans to continue through Aug. 1. In South Carolina, special "Y on the Fly" vans bring food straight to the kids who need it most.

"We have our mobile Y on the Fly vans at our SC site, and kids can come up to it, and we do 3- ,4- , 7-day meals at our sites," said Henry.

More sites keep asking to join. "We get calls every day from new places wanting help. Not just summer camps — apartment buildings and community centers reach out asking if we can make sure their kids get food," Henry explained.

YMCA CFO Cheryl Wirt started this effort. "She cares deeply about feeding kids in both states, making sure they get good food when they need it," Henry said.

When school cafeterias close for summer break, this program fills the gap. Any child can get food at these sites — no cost, no questions asked.