More than 10,000 meals were donated to the local Grovetown nonprofit Concerned Women Inc. from the newly opened Chick-fil-A, as part of the restaurant's three initiatives to give back to the community, coinciding with its grand opening.
The boxes containing the sustainable meals were packed by more than 60 people Wednesday who attended "The First 100" campout in the parking lot ahead of the site's grand opening Thursday, in an effort to receive free Chick-fil-A food for a year.
Concerned Women Inc. chief Bea Sanders said the food donation will help the organization get a jump-start on its summer feeding initiatives.
"We are already reaching out to people, telling them that the meals are coming," Sanders said at the new Chick-fil-A, where she helped participants pack the meals. "It will coincide with our food giveaway next Wednesday at 10 a.m."
Sanders said the partnership came about through the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, of which the nonprofit and the new Chick-fil-A are both members.
But the new restaurant owner, Erik Smith, didn't stop there.
The First 100 were also asked to bring new or gently used children's books to be placed in a newly built Book House and donated to Concerned Women Inc., to serve as a small library exchange.
In addition, Smith will donate $1 from every 6-count cookie pack sold at the location to support Thumbs Up Mission, a nonprofit that allows families of a parent or child battling cancer to attend a free retreat together, in an effort to create happy, lasting memories amid the strife of fighting cancer.
The new, nearly 5,000-square-foot restaurant opened its doors to The First 100 Thursday morning to dole out prizes before opening to the public at 6 a.m. The new site employs 100 workers and is the second location to open in Augusta and surrounding areas.
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Sustainable Brands Staff
Published Jun 12, 2017 6pm EDT / 3pm PDT / 11pm BST / 12am CEST