Supply chain issues have impacted many northeast Georgia businesses and organizations, including Georgia Mountain Food Bank.
The food bank provides much-needed food products to those facing food insecurity in Hall, Forsyth, Dawson, Lumpkin and Union counties, an act of service which has been more challenging in recent months.
“The way that we work, and the way that we receive things I think is forever going to be changed,” Kay Blackstock, executive director of Georgia Mountain Food Bank, said. “Just because of the ebbs and flow of the inventory … the rising cost of fuel, shortage of truck drivers.”
Specifically, Blackstock said the food bank has seen a direct impact from the supply chain issues in the form of salvage loads of groceries.
“Up until the last couple of months, we were getting salvage loads of groceries and household products, but that has ended because the supply is not there,” Blackstock said.
In the absence of salvage loads, Georgia Mountain Food Bank has relied on retail partners and community support to help those in need in northeast Georgia.
Blackstock said the food bank recently held its annual School Community Food Drive in partnership with 24 schools throughout the Gainesville City School System and Hall, Lumpkin and Dawson County school systems.
“We received over 30,000 pounds of food from that one food drive,” Blackstock said. “The community just on their own, whether it's an organized food drive or what, have been very generous.”
While Blackstock said the food bank’s inventory is better than it was 12 months ago, they are still in a place where donations are down. However, she said the food bank has learned to adapt and make use of what they have, rather than focus on the items that they cannot access.
“We get lots of fresh produce, and we have a program in place here at the food bank, Neighborhood Fresh, where we take the produce out on a regular schedule,” Blackstock said. “We [are] encouraging our partner agencies, the local food pantry, to consider using more fresh produce.”
One in eight Georgians is currently facing food insecurity, according to the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, a statistic that stays constant throughout the holiday season.
“Food insecurity doesn’t take a holiday … it’s 365 days a year for us, but it’s especially hard at the holidays,” Blackstock said. “It’s heartbreaking to think how many children are living in homes where it’s not even about … gifts, it’s about having a roof over your head and food to eat in the home.”
Blackstock said those interested in helping the community can visit gamountainfoodbank.org, or call the food bank at 770-534-4111.
