Dr. Angela Canfield, of Sandfly Family Dental in Savannah and Premier Dental Designs in Rincon, has announced that her offices will be collecting donations in July and August for Second Harvest Food Bank’s Kids Cafe program, which helps feed area children who have limited food to eat during the school year.

Canfield invites the community to deliver nonperishable food items including peanut butter, granola bars, peanut butter crackers, mac and cheese, cereal, juice boxes and water to either dental office from Friday, July 14, through Friday, August 18, during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The donations will be presented to the Kids Cafe in August.

Kids Cafe is a program of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal Georgia that provides children who are at-risk for hunger with a safe haven during the school year where they can get a nutritious dinner, tutoring and homework assistance. Its services are proven to increase the likelihood that these children complete their education and participate in extra-curricular activities.

“When I look at my young daughter, who is healthy and well fed, I cannot imagine how heartbreaking it would be to not have the means to feed her,” Canfield said. “It takes so little to make a big difference for these children, both in the here and now and for the rest of their lives.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development and can prevent various health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, iron deficiency and dental cavities.

The Georgia Food Bank estimates that over 700,000 Georgia children live in households without adequate food. Kids Cafe originated in Savannah, Georgia, in 1989 to combat this problem, and it now serves more than 3,200 children each day at one of its sites in Appling, Bulloch, Chatham, Evans, Liberty, Tattnall and Wayne counties.

Kids Cafe is nationally recognized for its balanced evening meals and the mentoring opportunities it offers the children it serves.

Food items can be dropped off at Premier Dental Designs, located at 5871 Highway 21 South in Rincon, and Sandfly Family Dental at 7360 Skidaway, Rd Suite 2 in Savannah.