Atlanta Apartment Association’s 27thAnnual Food Drive Raises 6.68 Million Meals

David Hirsch

 ATLANTA, GA— The Atlanta Apartment Association’s (AAA) 27th Annual Food-A-Thon raised enough food items and money this year to provide 6.68 million meals to hungry families in metro Atlanta and north Georgia through its partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB).

The record amount is an increase from last year’s Food-A-Thon, which provided 6.2 million meals.

“We are excited to have provided our largest amount of meals yet to ACFB,” said David Hirsch, Chairman of ECI Group Inc. and of AAA.

“We are humbled by all of the donations from our members, their staff and the residents who live in apartment communities throughout Atlanta. Hunger is a big problem in Georgia and every dollar raised, every can donated and every hour spent volunteering makes a major impact.”

 The event is believed to be the largest food-and-fund drive in the United States. 

During the Food-A-Thon, AAA member firms collect food items and money for donation to the ACFB. The theme of this year’s Food-A-Thon was, “So You Think You CAN Dance!”

 This year’s Food-A-Thon began on June 26 and concluded on Oct. 17 with a colorful parade in which AAA members delivered their food and money donations to ACFB’s headquarters in Atlanta.

 Founded in 1979, ACFB procures more than 50 million pounds of food and groceries each year and distributes them to more than 600 nonprofit partner agencies serving families and individuals in 29 metro Atlanta and north Georgia counties.

For every $1 donated, ACFB can provide $9.21 worth of grocery products back to the community – enough to provide four meals.

 The statistics on those in need in Georgia are sobering. According to Feeding America’s Hunger in America 2014 report, an estimated 755,400 people in metro Atlanta and north Georgia turn to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families each year. This includes more than 164,000 children and more than 64,000 seniors.

 For the ACFB service area, the report shows that 80,600 people are served each week by programs supported through ACFB, and that those clients turn to ACFB partner programs and pantries for help more than 6.1 million times during the course of the year. 

This means clients are visiting ACFB network programs an average of eight times a year.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Angie Clawson, Public Relations Manager

Atlanta Community Food Bank

Angela.clawson@acfb.org

678-553-6010 (O) 404.569.4945 (C)

  

Stephen Ursery

The Wilbert Group

404-549-7150 (O) 404-405-2354 (C)

sursery@thewilbertgroup.com