Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — This summer, The Wharf and Buffalo Rock Pepsi joined together in Orange Beach to help fight childhood hunger in the state. As part of the Wharf Summer Nights series, they donated $5,000 to support the Secret Meals for Hungry Children program. The donation was presented at a special event on Wednesday, July 30, during the final 2025 Pepsi Summer Adventure for Hunger. Various representatives from The Wharf and Pepsi took part in the check presentation, giving back directly to the local community.

Beginning May 26 and ending July 31, Wharf Summer Nights offered various free, family-friendly events each night of the week. On Wednesdays, the Pepsi Summer Adventure for Hunger featured a fun scavenger hunt for children, who could win prizes from Pepsi. For the fifth year, The Wharf and Pepsi added a unique charity twist by agreeing to donate $5 for every child who finished the scavenger hunt, with both organizations contributing to the fundraiser. Their combined effort totaled $5,000 to support the Secret Meals program, which operates during the school year.

The Alabama Credit Union’s Secret Meals for Hungry Children program works to provide non-perishable food packs to students facing hunger on weekends. Approximately 2,500 students in Alabama and Northwest Florida receive these meals each week. Some children depend on free or reduced-price school lunches, but often go without enough food when away from school on Saturdays and Sundays. Each pack helps fill this gap and costs about $140 per child for the entire school year.

The food packs contain two breakfasts, two lunches, and two snacks, using easy-to-open packaging designed for children. With items like pull-tab cans, juice boxes with straws, and small crackers, the packs are both nutritious and easy to carry, weighing only 3.5 pounds to fit in a backpack.

Since 2021, The Wharf’s Anchor Campaign has donated over $300,000 to area nonprofits along the Gulf Coast. The organization says it is thankful for the ongoing partnership with Pepsi and the work of Alabama Credit Union through the Secret Meals program. Local leaders hope that community support for these initiatives will keep growing.

For those interested in helping, the Secret Meals program accepts donations on their website to continue feeding children in Alabama. More information about The Wharf’s events or how to contribute to Secret Meals can be found through their website. Pepsi’s website provides additional details about their community work as well.