Heroes for the Hungry Take Artistic Approach

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Mom always told you not to play with your food, only this time, it could save lives.

At Sage Software in Lawrenceville, employees are building a sculpture using canned good and other food products they've collected. It's their attempt at taking a lighthearted approach to a heartbreaking situation brought on by our challenging economy.

Sage employee Howard Newmark has friends who have experienced the harsh side of our economic down slide.

"They actually both lost jobs within two weeks of each other," says Newmark. "My friend didn't want to call and I said absolutely, you have to have food for the children."

With the unemployment lines long and steady, and stomach's growling all over Metro Atlanta, employees at Sage started pitching in. The food they've collected will go to a local ministry that distributes meals to needy families, one that has seen demand grow while donations have dropped.

"What we're hearing from them is that they're down for the year," says Sage General Manager Connie Certosi. "It's particularly down over the summer months which is very, very scary."

The Atlanta Community Food Bank held food drives in the spring, gathering a supply that they hoped would last through the summer. That food is already gone.

"As we're out and about in the community we see more and more people coming up to us who are asking for help," says Sage employee Lonnicia Lester. "We hear customers talk about their individual areas and how they see communities suffer."

On June 19th, 11Alive is hosting a summer food drive. You can drop your donations at any Publix store on that day.

It's your chance to join employees of Sage Software, and become a hero for the hungry.