The Georgia Mountain Food Bank to conduct USDA Mass Food Distribution

Source: CummingHome.com

The Georgia Mountain Food Bank - an affiliate of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, a member of Feeding America - serving Hall, Forsyth, Dawson, Union and Lumpkin Counties, will conduct a USDA Mass Food Distribution in the parking lot of Hollis Transport in Flowery Branch on Saturday, September 12th from 9 a.m. to Noon.  Hollis Transport is located at 4515 Cantrell Road in Flowery Branch.

The distribution is a result of the overwhelming increase in demand for food that the Georgia Mountain Food Bank is seeing by its partner agencies.

The food is provided by the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the U.S.Department of Agriculture thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Individuals who qualify for The Emergency Food Assistance Program are eligible to receive this food.

“The increase in demand for food during this economic downturn has touched all walks of life and this additional food source offers a tremendous benefit to those food insecure families in our community as we strive desperately to keep up with the demand for food to serve those going hungry,” said Kay Blackstock, executive director of the Georgia Mountain Food Bank.

Each household receiving food will be asked to provide name and address, and sign a self declaration form required by USDA.  Volunteers and employees of the Georgia Mountain Food Bank will be on site to help complete the paper work and direct traffic to load each vehicle with food quickly and safely to help expedite the distribution to an expected 500 families.  In anticipation that the demand for food could be greater than the supply, another distribution will be held in October.

The food distribution coincides with Hunger Action Month, where food banks across the nation join in a call-to-action for Americans to get involved in fighting hunger during the month of September. The Georgia Mountain Food Bank has also planned their annual Empty Bowl Luncheon on September 15 in observance of Hunger Action Month.  The lunch, hosted by First Baptist Church of Gainesville, combines the efforts of local art students, artists, restaurant owners and volunteers.  BB&T, Chattahoochee State Bank and the John Jarrard Foundation are participating through donations of food, volunteer hours and public fundraising events. 

For complete details on all Hunger Action Month activities, contact The Georgia Mountain Food Bank at (770)967-0075.

The Georgia Mountain Food Bank (GMFB), an affiliate of the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB), collects surplus food and grocery products for distribution to nonprofit partner agencies serving the hungry in the Georgia Mountain region. Located in Gainesville, GMFB collaborates with ACFB to provide food to nonprofits with hunger relief programs in Dawson, Forsyth, Hall, Lumpkin and Union counties. These programs provide direct assistance to families and individuals who are in need of food assistance due to job loss or low income. For more information about the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, visit www.gamountainfoodbank.org.