Georgia Ports Police Lt. Jeremy Polston’s love of classic and custom cars is fueling community outreach in Liberty County. Polston and his wife, Shannon, founded the Hinesville Horsepower Car Club and its monthly show, Hinesville Cars & Coffee four years ago. The show, which began as a small cruise-in at the Hinesville Dunkin Donuts, is now a much-anticipated event that supports various causes throughout the year.

Roeshone Scott, a GPA risk management technician, is doing her part to help troubled youth by investing her time in children at the Savannah Regional Youth Detention Center. The YDC is a secure short-term facility for youth sentenced by juvenile courts.

GPA Intermodal Manager Richard Burkhalter’s local outreach movement started with a walk to work and a loaf of bread. In 2014, Burkhalter and his wife, Erika, moved from Effingham County to downtown Savannah, just two blocks away from historic Forsyth Park. On her way to the office, Erika noticed many people in need of a helping hand. So, the couple began wrapping up sandwiches to hand out along Erika’s route. This was the beginning of Urban Missionary 912, the Burkhalters’ grassroots effort to help the community around them.

In the summer of 2017, we made our ninth annual tour of Georgia, traveling almost 1,000 miles through 44 counties and visiting 12 cities throughout our state. We began our state tour in Brunswick, where we visited the Colonel’s Island  Ro/Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off ) terminal, one of four Port of Brunswick terminals operated by the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), a key contributor to the state’s economy. Colonel’s Island is one of the nation’s busiest Ro/Ro terminals and is very impressive.  When we visited with Georgia Ports Authority General Manager  of Operations Bill Dawson and GPA Manager of Governmental Affairs Lee Beckmann, we had our photo made in front of one of the many massive cargo ships. I couldn’t help but think  how important our transportation and logistics industry is here in Georgia.