The Atlanta Community Food Bank’s Mission
"There’s nothing to be ashamed about. We all fall on hard times; sometimes you must put your pride aside and do what you must,” said Morgan, a junior biology major at Kennesaw State University’s Marietta campus, to those hesitant to seek food assistance.
After her father’s death, Morgan took on a significant role in supporting her family and helping her mother care for her autistic sister. It was important to her that she could aid in alleviating some household costs by contributing healthy food options for her family. Morgan learned about the Community Food Center - Marietta through a friend, and since then has found it a crucial support system for the community.
"It means a lot to have necessities, so you don’t have to try to scrape pennies together to get just the basic needs," she said.
Stories like Morgan’s are why the Atlanta Community Food Bank (the Food Bank) continues to do what they do. Their mission is simple: to fight hunger by engaging, educating and empowering the community. Founded in 1979 by Bill Bolling as a ministry for the unhoused, the Atlanta Community Food Bank is one of the first food banks in the country.
The Food Bank was born through Bill’s pursuit of expanding his work as the Director of the Community Kitchen at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Midtown to move beyond what one church and program could provide. His promise to secure enough food to feed the community with the help of other organizations is what led the food bank to distribute 15,279 pounds of food to 25 partnering organizations in its first year.
This past year, the organization distributed 123.5 million pounds of food, equating to 112 million meals, to more than 700 partnering organizations and five Community Food Centers around the metro Atlanta area. They offer a variety of services and programs for the community:
The Benefits Outreach team helps people at shelters, senior centers, food pantries and other locations to apply and enroll in food focused government assistance programs like SNAP and WIC.
In January of 2023, the Food Bank collaborated with DoorDash and Amazon Flex to launch its Home Delivery Program. This initiative directly supports community members with limited mobility or those without transportation to food distribution sites.
· The School Pantry/Child Nutrition Program works with local schools, school districts and community organizations to implement targeted and intentional programming so that children and their families have the food they need to thrive.
· The Senior Food Box Distribution Program supports senior neighbors, who often face unique challenges in accessing nutritious food.
· Key signature events for awareness and funding include the Hunger Walk/Run 5K and Full Course Classic golf tournament.
Through its nonprofit partnerships, the Food Bank is working nonstop to provide food and critical resources to hundreds of thousands of low-income, food-insecure individuals living across 29 metro Atlanta and North Georgia counties.
At 345,000 square feet, the Food Bank is the largest food bank in the country by physical footprint; and the fourth largest in the nation in terms of food distribution. As food insecurity continues to rise, there’s an increased need for expansion to help bring hope, dignity and nourishment to those who need it most. Whether it’s co-creating impactful programs with funding partners or witnessing the heartfelt gratitude of individuals receiving food at the community food centers, the organization’s impact is felt by all who are involved.
"The Atlanta Community Food Bank is serving 70% more people than it did three and a half years ago. In these challenging times, we are grateful for the continued support of the Jim Ellis Automotive Group," said Greg Sims, director of institutional giving at the Food Bank. “Your partnership helps ensure that our neighbors continue to receive healthy, nutritious food when they need it most."
Food insecurity drives the mission to fight hunger, and volunteers are the heartbeat. The organization relies on more than 40,000 volunteers each year to fuel their work at multiple locations across metro Atlanta. The Atlanta Community Food Bank invites you to join them to make the world a better place, one meal at a time. Together we can make a difference
Interested community members can help support the mission through donations, volunteering, attending their events and raising awareness about food insecurity. Want to learn more? Check out the Get Involved page on the Food Bank’s website!
Click the links below to connect with the Atlanta Community Food Bank on social media:
Facebook: /atlfoodbank
Twitter: @acfb
Instagram: @acfb
YouTube: @atlantacommunityfoodbank
TikTok: @atlfoodbank
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/acfb/