Cherry Blossom Food Vendors Donate to The Salvation Army

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — More than a dozen food vendors are springing into the season with blossoming hearts and donating to The Salvation Army.

“One person can make a difference, one person can set the stage for the many others to come,” said Jerry England of Beaver Concessions. Beaver Concessions was the first vendor to donate food items to local charities when 41NBC started the collection four years ago.

Gillette’s Pizza was next in line and have been donating ever since. Joining the list of vendors are CJ’s Smoked Cabin, Sticky Fingers, Denton Foods, Asian Grill, Robbeloth Concessions, Corky’s Mini-Donuts, Two Cousins Food, B&M Sweet Shop, Jake’s Italian Grill, Macon-Bibb Fire Department, Just Baked, and Morris Concessions.

“Everybody is part of the community, whether it’s my hometown or your hometown, so anytime we can help out or give a lending hand, we’re happy to do it,” said owner of Gillette’s Pizza, Brian Gillette.

Jay Rounds with Jake’s Italian Grill added, “It’s important to support the local community and people who maybe can’t come to the event…give them a chance to taste and participate in something they may not be able to do on their own.”

It’s vendors like Gillette’s Pizza and Jake’s Italian Grill that bring a taste of the ‘pinkest party on earth’ to those who may not have an opportunity to enjoy the festivities, otherwise.

“It’s such a great variation of food and things going on here that we thought it would be fun to contribute,” said Two Cousins Food Robyn Rowles.

Keneth Street of the Asian Grill has a more personal connection to The Salvation Army. He said, “I was doing drugs, went down there at the time and they straightened my life out.”

For Street, that’s just more of a reason to give back.

CJ’s Smoked Cabin is a local vendor from Warner Robins who wants to support middle Georgia as much as he can.

“We are blessed to be a blessing to others. We are a Christian-based business and we like to give back to the community because the community gives so much to us,” said owner of CJ’s Carlos Molina.

While festival-goers continue to be a part of this year’s ‘pink, pink, pink world’ those less fortunate will get a small, sweet taste of the community’s sharing spirit.

“I love the fact that people who don’t get to come, get to experience it,” said B&M Sweet Shop owner Teresa Moss.

There were a total of 14 vendors who donated to The Salvation Army. Donations included: baked potatoes, wings and BBQ, corn dogs, paninis, turkey legs, donuts, popcorn, boiled peanuts, funnel cakes, cinnamon rolls, pizza, and fried pickles. The donations totaled close to $2,000 in specialty foods and desserts. All the items were picked up by The Salvation Army Wednesday afternoon.