Addressing Hunger in Atlanta: How Businesses and Associations Can Help

By David Hirsch, Chairman of ECI Group Inc. and the Atlanta Apartment Association

The statistics on those in need in Georgia are sobering: 18.9 percent of residents — and 28.1 percent of children — are food insecure, meaning they don’t know where their next meal is coming from, according to Feeding America. Furthermore, nearly 20 percent of Georgians are living in poverty, up from just under 13 percent in 2000, according to the Census Bureau.

The cost of living in Atlanta is high and continues to grow, leading to an increasing number of people in need. During the Great Recession, many of those in the middle class suddenly found themselves in need of help. On top of that, monthly allotments for food stamps decreased by $36 per month for a household of four in November 2013.

The Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) is leading the fight against hunger in metro Atlanta and north Georgia. The ACFB, which began operating in 1979, distributes more than 45 million pounds of food and grocery products each year to more than 600 partner nonprofits, which in turn provide the items to families and individuals in 29 counties across metro Atlanta and north Georgia.

The Atlanta Apartment Association (AAA) partnered with ACFB 26 years ago to conduct the annual Food-A-Thon, now believed to be the largest food drive in the country. In last year’s Food-A-Thon, the AAA and its members collected enough food items and money to provide 6.2 million meals to hungry families in Georgia.

Companies and associations like AAA can support the ACFB’s efforts in several ways. No matter if your organization is large or small, it can make a big impact in the fight against hunger.

Groups can host their own food drives to collect money or food items, and even $1 donated to ACFB equates to $9.21 worth of grocery products — enough to provide four meals. If you can raise even $50, that equals 200 meals.

In addition to raising money and collecting food, groups can also volunteer at the Product Rescue Center, which packages items for distribution to ACFB’s partner agencies, or work with one of ACFB’s six other programs that fight hunger by engaging, educating and empowering our community: Atlanta Prosperity Campaign, Atlanta’s Table, Community Gardens, Hunger 101, Hunger Walk/Run and Kids In Need.

Hunger is a big problem in Georgia and every dollar raised, every can donated and every hour spent volunteering makes a major impact. I urge your organization to join the fight today.

Learn more about the ACFB at acfb.org.