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Effinghams jobless rate holds steady at 7.6 percent
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Staff Report
Updated: Aug 26, 2013, 9:19 PM
Published: Aug 26, 2013, 9:21 PM

ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Labor announced last week that Effingham County’s preliminary unemployment rate for July was 7.6 percent, holding steady from June’s revised rate of 7.6 percent.


Unemployment in Effingham for July 2012 was 8 percent.


Metro Savannah’s unemployment rate decreased to 8.7 percent in July, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 8.8 percent in June. The rate was 8.9 percent in July a year ago.


The rate declined because the number of layoffs, represented by new claims for unemployment insurance benefits, decreased by 436, or 23.5 percent, to 1,418, down from 1,854 in June. Most of the decline came in transportation, warehousing, and accommodations and food services.


There were 157,500 jobs in July in metro Savannah, down by 1,500 from 159,000 in June. Most of the job loss came in local government and leisure and hospitality. The area has gained 700 jobs since the 156,800 jobs in July 2012. The annual gains came mostly in trade and transportation, leisure and hospitality, and education and health services.


The labor force, which is the number of people employed plus those unemployed but actively looking for work, declined by 648 to 181,812 in July, down from 182,460 in June. It was down by 2,084 from 183,896 in July 2012.


The unemployment rate in Coastal Georgia declined to 9.4 percent in July, down from 9.5 percent in June. The rate was 9.6 percent in July 2012.


The rate declined because the number of unemployed residents declined by 618 to 29,897. There were 289,674 employed residents.


The labor force, which is the number of people employed plus those unemployed but actively looking for work, declined by 812 to 319,571 in July, down from 320,383 in June. It was down by 2,667 from 322,238 in July 2012.


The number of layoffs, represented by new claims for unemployment insurance benefits, increased by 127, or 4.3 percent, to 3,086 from 2,959 in June. Claims were up in manufacturing, construction and trade.


Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.9 percent, while metro Dalton and the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region tied for the highest at 12.3 percent.
Manna House Expands Thanksgiving Giveaway Amid Rising Need
Rising Grocery Costs in Georgia and Loss of SNAP Benefits Drive Record Local Demand
Manna House
Liz Quarterman, operations manager at Manna House, packs a Thanksgiving 'Box of Hope' for a local family. This year, volunteers helped assemble 1,100 boxes to ensure every household in need can enjoy a holiday meal. (Paul Kasko / Effingham Herald)
Updated: Nov 22, 2025, 6:36 PM
Published: Nov 20, 2025, 6:13 PM

RINCON, Ga. — Manna House has expanded its annual Thanksgiving “Boxes of Hope” giveaway to meet growing demand as families face the loss of SNAP benefits during the federal shutdown and continue to struggle with rising grocery prices. 

Many families in Effingham County are struggling more now than they ever have before. Grocery prices in Georgia have risen an estimated 6.57% over the past year.

Distribution hours and location
Distribution is taking place at Manna House, 1210 Patriot Drive in Rincon, and continues Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon and Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. The giveaway runs through Nov. 25.

Operations Manager on growing need
Operations Manager Liz Quarterman said the ministry increased its distribution from 800 to 1,100 boxes after seeing an unprecedented spike in local need.

“Three hundred new families have come forward since Nov. 1 seeking assistance,” she said. “Even families with two incomes are struggling to buy groceries and put food on the table. Prices are skyrocketing.”

To meet the surge, Manna House purchased an additional 300 boxes using its own budget at a cost of about $9,000, Quarterman said.

Each "Box of Hope" contains all the essentials for a full Thanksgiving meal, including a frozen turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, peaches, cranberry sauce, yams, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, marshmallow cream, Jell-O, rice, mac and cheese, dried milk, brownie mix, Jiffy mix, and a dozen eggs. Flatware, napkins, and cups are included as well.

Quarterman said the cost of each box would be about $150 at grocery-store prices. Through bulk purchasing from Harvest House, Manna House acquires the food at about 10 cents per pound — roughly $20 per box.

Manna House
Volunteer Laurie Jamison directs traffic at Manna House’s Thanksgiving distribution center. This year’s giveaway drew more than 150 volunteers — the most ever in the organization’s history — helping assemble and distribute 1,100 “Boxes of Hope” to families in need. (Nichole Buchanan / Effingham Herald)

Manna House in Rincon
Manna House in Rincon is a nonprofit ministry that provides food assistance, clothing, and household items to those in need in Effingham County. It operates a food pantry with weekly distributions and a thrift store whose sales help fund the pantry’s operations. The organization also hosts school supply drives and holiday assistance programs like "Boxes of Hope."

“Manna House provides food for over 16,000 households in need each year, and we’ve seen that number rise during the government shutdown,” Quarterman said. “'The Boxes of Hope' are especially meaningful. Every family deserves to enjoy a holiday meal, and thanks to our generous donors and faithful volunteers, we are blessed to share God’s love in this way.”

“If you need food, we are here,” Quarterman said. “If you know someone who needs food, we are here.”

Volunteer turnout sets record
Quarterman said this year’s giveaway sparked the largest volunteer turnout in Manna House history. More than 150 volunteers have helped distribute the boxes.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “So many people are volunteering. This is the best county in the world.”