Noelani Mathews | WCTV Eyewitness News

VALDOSTA – As it gets closer to the ‘season of giving’, one South Georgia food bank is asking for the gift of time.

Second Harvest of South Georgia is participating in the nationwide ‘Make a Difference Day’.

They say it’s next Saturday, and their biggest volunteer event of the year.

They’re looking for more than 500 volunteers total for their Valdosta, Thomasville, and Albany locations.

It helps them prepare for the need around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

At the food bank, they say it’s one of their favorite times of the year.

“What it looks like is gratitude and sometimes it’s smiles, sometimes it’s tears,” says Eliza McCall, with Second Harvest. “People don’t want to have to ask for help, but they are exceedingly grateful when we give them the opportunity like this. For us, it’s one of our favorite days of the year.”

Volunteers will help with several tasks, such as sorting food and packing boxes.

It helps them prepare for Thanksgiving, where they plan to deliver nearly a thousand boxes full of food.