Ga. Mtn. Food Bank benefits from generosity of local legal community

GAINESVILLE - Lawyers in Georgia reach a milestone this year in collecting more than a million pounds of food for the state's regional food banks in the annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy.<br /> <br /> The Georgia Legal Food Frenzy asks Georgia lawyers to challenge each other during the food drive benefiting the seven food banks, including the Gaineville-based Georgia Mountain Food Bank (GMFB). <br /> <br /> The drive accepted both monetary and food donations. A total of 277 law firms and legal organizations representing 16,176 employees competed in the 2014 Georgia Legal Food Frenzy to raise the equivalent of 1,140,627 pounds of food, a 36 percent increase from last year.<br /> <br /> GMFB had 23 firms in Hall County and Forsyth County participate this year. <br /> <br /> Stewart, Melvin & Frost, LLP, collected the largest monetary and food donation for GMFB. In total, local law firms raised $8,332 and collected more than 1,636 pounds of food to help to provide more than 34,000 pounds of food to those in need throughout the five-county service area of GMFB.<br /> <br /> "We are beyond grateful for the support of the legal community both locally and statewide," said Kay Blackstock, executive director of Georgia Mountain Food Bank. "The involvement of law firms in the north Georgia area reaffirms the giving nature of our community and the importance of ending hunger in Georgia."<br /> <br /> The Georgia Legal Food Frenzy was specifically timed to coincide with Law Day and the end of the school year to help the food banks prepare for the summer. During the summer months, the demand for food increases because children who depend on free or reduced school lunches are at home. <br /> <br /> All of the food collected has been donated directly to the regional food bank that serves each competitor's community. Georgia Mountain Food Bank serves more than 61 partner agencies in Dawson, Forsyth, Hall, Lumpkin and Union counties. <br /> "The timing of this event could not be better for us each year as we gear up to feed children over the summer months," continues Blackstock. "This summer we are planning to provide 35,000 breakfast and lunch meals to children in three counties. It is quite a production and community effort. Without the help of volunteers and financial support of the communities we serve, we could not accomplish all we do each year to feed the hungry in our area." <br /> <br /> The following local law firms/agencies participated this year:<br /> <br /> The Weaver Firm<br /> Juvenile Court<br /> Smith Gilliam Williams and Miles<br /> Jarrard and Davis<br /> Meincke Law<br /> Whelchel Dunlap Jarrard & Walker<br /> Public Defender<br /> Hulsey Oliver & Mahar<br /> Reese Beisbier and Associates<br /> Stow Garvin and Glenn<br /> Sartain Law Offices<br /> Hall Co DA's Office<br /> Hall Co Solicitor's Office<br /> Summer and Summer<br /> Clyde Morris LLP<br /> Breakfield and Associates<br /> State Court Of Hall Co<br /> Ga Legal Services Program<br /> Stewart Melvin & Frost<br /> Corso Law Center<br /> The Law office of Michelle Hall<br /> Coleman Chambers Rogers<br /> Brett D. Turner, PC<br /> <br /> For more information about the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, call 770-534-4111 or visit www.gamountainfoodbank.org.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/5/275479