Since opening its doors in October 2008, the Food Bank has distributed approximately 1.1 million pounds of food and grocery products through a network of nonprofit partner agencies in Hall, Lumpkin, Union, Dawson and Forsyth counties. Currently working out of more than one facility owned by Hollis Transport in Flowery Branch, the Food Bank hopes to have a permanent home in the near future to increase capacity and be able to meet the growing demand in its service area.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey of 2007 and 2008, nearly 1.4 million Georgians are living in poverty, 20.1 percent of which are children.
"We've seen people all of ages and from all walks of life who have needed help over the past 18 months," said Kay Blackstock, executive director of GMFB. "There is no standard demographic for those facing hunger and food insecurity during these tough economic times."
Of the five counties served by GMFB, four had more than 10 percent of their total population living below the poverty level in 2008. Lumpkin topped the list with 15.1 percent, and in Union County, among households with children under the age of 17, 22.6 percent were living beneath the poverty level.
As an affiliate of the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB), - a member of the national food bank network, Feeding America - GMFB collects and distributes surplus food and grocery products for distribution to nonprofit partner agencies serving the hungry in the Georgia Mountain region.
These programs provide direct assistance to families and individuals who are in need of food assistance due to job loss or low income. While GMFB works in partnership with ACFB, it also depends on donations from individuals, groups, wholesalers and retailers to meet the demand. Of the 1.1 million pounds distributed since October 2008, approximately 63,000 pounds has come from local food drives and food donations. The rest is distributed in partnership with ACFB, from their Atlanta warehouse that serves 38 counties in Northeast Georgia.
Since January 2010, 4,781 pounds of food has been donated to GMFB through food drives led by local companies, individuals and organizations. The Food Bank has also been the beneficiary of 24,000 pounds of donated product from corporations. Some of the most recent supporters have been Young Leaders Society of Hall County, Spring Chicken Festival in Gainesville and the Wrigley Company.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/5/229688