24-05-2025
Local food bank looking to help families affected by paper mill closure
DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN)—A food bank is preparing to ramp up efforts to help needy families after a local paper mill announced its closure is set for later this year.
'The average American citizen is two paychecks away from needing help from a food bank,' Wiregrass Food Bank Assistant Director Julie Gonzalez said. 'I know that those folks are going to be in need, so we're going to rise to the occasion as well.'
Earlier this month, hundreds of Wiregrass residents were informed that their lives would be significantly impacted after the announcement that the Georgia Pacific Cedar Springs Containerboard mill would shut down its operations.
Effectively cutting over 530 positions by the end of August.
With hundreds of families and their livelihoods facing unexpected changes, the Wiregrass Food Bank is looking to continue providing food for their tables.
However, they are calling for continued community support to ensure their mission is possible.
'We're going to need more food to give out to our more than 100 agencies who are spread out through our six-county service area,' Gonzalez said.
However, providing for the hundreds of families impacted by the mill's closure won't be easy.
In addition to trying to ramp up food intake and other efforts for said families, the Wiregrass Food Bank is also tasked with dealing with children getting out for the summer.
'For the families who are really struggling, when you take away those free breakfasts, you take away those free lunches…that's a lot of food loss,' Gonzalez said.
The food bank stressed that families should not panic at this time.
Organizers say the food bank has a plan to handle the anticipated increase in demand for food, but it starts with the continued donations from the community.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
