Hundreds of residents, on both ends of the county, displayed patience Tuesday morning, while parked in their vehicles for hours in the scorching heat. But it was all worth it as they drove away with free boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables, courtesy of local charitable organizations.

Motorists looking to be first in line for a food giveaway, arrived on time at Pembroke Christian Church and First Baptist Church in Richmond Hill, only to discover that the truck carrying the produce from the Macon area was running late. The truck arrived two hours later and volunteers did their best to distribute the boxes as quickly as they could.

Drivers stayed in their cars as the boxes were safely placed in their vehicle's trunk, in line with proper social distancing guidelines.

In all, the Richmond Hill Lions Club, who partnered with the United Way of the Coastal Empire distributed more than 1,600 boxes of fresh produce. At one point, more than 100 vehicles lined up in the First Baptist Church parking lot.

Boyd Walden, past president of the Richmond Hill Lions Club, was among 15 to 20 volunteers who helped make the event a success in Richmond Hill. He said the produce giveaway was made possible from COVID-19 stimulus funds managed by the USDA. Civic organizations throughout the state were asked to distribute the food.

Mary Fuller, the Bryan County director of the United Way of the Coastal Empire, said the Lions Club asked her organization and Bryan County Family Connections for their help, and they gladly accepted.

"We've had a huge number of other people who joined us to make this successful," Fuller said, mentioning Pembroke Advanced Communications, Pembroke Christian Church, First Baptist Church of Richmond Hill, and a number of community volunteers.

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