Orange Beach, Ala. — (GSN) — The Wharf and Birmingham-based Buffalo Rock Pepsi have announced a joint $5,000 donation to Alabama Credit Union’s Secret Meals for Hungry Children program. This program provides non-perishable weekend meal packs to students across the state during the school year. Representatives from both organizations recently gathered for a check presentation to celebrate the contribution and close out a successful season of community programming.

This initiative was a key highlight of the popular Wharf Summer Nights series, which offered free, family-friendly events every night from May 26 through July 30. On Wednesdays, families participated in a scavenger hunt where children could win Pepsi prizes.

This year represents the sixth consecutive year that The Wharf and Pepsi have partnered to combine family fun with charitable giving. For every child who completed the weekly scavenger hunt, both organizations pledged a $5 donation to the Secret Meals program. The effort successfully raised a total of $5,000.

“We're grateful for the opportunity to partner with The Wharf and Alabama Credit Union once again to raise awareness and support children and families across Alabama,” said Cynthia Bridges, Regional Business Development Coordinator – On Premise, Gulf Region at Buffalo Rock Pepsi. “Giving back to the communities we serve is at the heart of what we do at Buffalo Rock, and we're proud to support the important work of the Secret Meals for Hungry Children program.”

Lindsey Pearce, Special Events and Community Partnerships at The Wharf, also shared her enthusiasm for the collaboration: “We are thrilled to join forces once again with Pepsi and Secret Meals for Hungry Children this year. This initiative strongly resonates with The Wharf's Anchor Campaign, our philanthropic arm, and we applaud Alabama Credit Union for their impactful contributions. We are grateful for Pepsi's generous matching donation and their integral role in this meaningful program.”

Currently, approximately 2,500 students across Alabama and Northwest Florida receive Secret Meals food packs on weekends. While many of these children rely on free and reduced-price school lunches during the week, they often face a nutritional gap over weekends. Feeding one child through this program for an entire school year costs approximately $140.

Since 2021, The Wharf’s Anchor Campaign has donated more than $350,000 to nonprofits and community organizations across the Gulf Coast region.

To support the Secret Meals program, visit secretmeals.org. For more details about events at The Wharf, visit alwharf.com.