Contact: Pamela G. Martin
Southern Management Corporation
703-902-2000 / [email protected]
VIENNA, VA. (February 5th, 2019) – Southern Management Corporation has operated a food pantry to benefit residents of its 25,000 apartment homes in the Baltimore/Washington area for more than six years. Because of the recent government shutdown and those who experienced financial hardship as a result, Southern received a dramatic increase in requests for assistance from residents. In response, Southern team members and vendors held an emergency food drive last week to help provide some relief. The effort resulted in total donations of more than 6,000 food items that will be delivered to more than 600 residents.
“The government shutdown affected a great number of our residents”, said Suzanne Hillman, CEO of Southern Management Corporation. “Whether they were furloughed federal employees, employed by businesses who lost work or conducted layoffs, or were impacted by interruptions in government assistance programs such as food stamps and rental assistance, the impact has been significant. In addition to our offering affected residents a modified rent payment schedule, this was another way we could help”, Hillman said.
Southern Management’s Food Pantry remains an ongoing, year-long effort by team members and vendors to provide needed food deliveries to residents who request it.