The Department of Juvenile Justice is conducting a statewide canned food drive collection campaign that will benefit local food banks across Georgia, including the Albany-based Food Bank of Southwest Georgia.

Named “Restock the Shelves ‘16”, the DJJ employee food collection project is a follow-up to a successful campaign conducted in 2014-15. Restock the Shelves ’16 began on Nov. 29 and run through the end of 2016.

DJJ Commissioner Avery D. Niles stated, “I am proud of the generous response that DJJ employees made in the past to help collect food and toiletry items for our communities. Now, as we enter the 2016 holiday season, the collection and donation of similar items will once again help local food banks provide meals and other necessities to the nearly one-in-five Georgians who are unsure of where their meals will come from this season.”

DJJ will collect canned food and toiletry items and then partner with the following food banks across Georgia:

· ALBANY – Food Bank of Southwest Georgia – 912-883-2139

· ATHENS – Food Bank of Northeast Georgia – 706-354-8191

· ATLANTA – Atlanta Community Food Bank – 404-892-9822

· AUGUSTA – Golden Harvest Food Bank – 706-736-1199

· COLUMBUS – Second Harvest Food Bank of the Chattahoochee Valley – 706-561-4755

· MACON – Middle Georgia Community Food Bank – 912-742-3958

· SAVANNAH – Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal Georgia – 912-236-6750

· VALDOSTA – Valdosta Food Bank – 912-244-2678

Among the most needed items for donation are canned meats, canned fruits and fruit juice, canned beans, canned soups, stews and pasta. Other items welcomed include peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, whole grain cereals, paper products, diapers and toiletries.