On July 15, The Girls Dig Deeper Initiative (GDDI), along with Robins Financial Credit Union, volunteered at the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, with whom they share a partnership.

The Girls Dig Deeper Initiative is in its third annual Summer in the City Learning Experience for teenage girls (ages 13-17) at the Rosa Jackson Community Center (1211 Maynard Street) from July 12-27. The purpose of this experience is to elevate youth girls’ mindset and promote positive behavior through various activities and impactful discussions

Najiva Timothee, GDDI Founder and Executive Director believes that volunteering at the Food Bank is an example of what the camp teaches and stands for.

“I want to make sure that the girls know what it is like to give back to the community. So being part of the Community Food Bank gives them that opportunity and experience of what it feels like to give back,” Timothee states.

The program, through the Macon Violence Prevention (MVP), helps keep the kids in the right environment and away from crime, especially in the summer.

“A lot of them are home trying to find things to do,” Timothee says. “That’s one of the reasons why we have this summer program, so we can keep the girls safe, engaged, and do something for them to learn to build healthy connections, build friendships.

GDDI first-timer Ariel Combs, would highly recommend any girl to attend the camp. “This is a sisterhood here, we don’t have any problems with each other, we all just click,” she adds.

Jaa’laiyah Card, another first-timer, seconds this statement. “Don’t be shy, everybody here was so welcoming” she says.

“It is important for us to have volunteers,” said Kathy McCollum, President and CEO of the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank. “We only have 22 employees here in our food bank, and we’re serving 24 counties, it’s a big job so we really rely on volunteers.”

Together, the girls were able to help pack 427 boxes including 6,068 meals that will be distributed to families in need across Middle Georgia.