Georgia Mountain Food Bank (GMFB) thanks the north Georgia legal community for their effort and participation in the seventh annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy. With more nearly $21,000 and 834 pounds donated, the competition collected enough money and shelf-stable food to help provide more than 105,000 meals to those in need throughout Hall, Lumpkin, Union, Dawson and Forsyth counties. This year’s competition resulted in a 23 percent increase in funds donated from last year.

The Georgia Legal Food Frenzy is a joint effort by the Young Lawyers Division, the Attorney General’s Office and the Georgia Food Bank Association. Georgia Legal Food Frenzy asks Georgia lawyers to challenge each other outside the courtroom during the statewide food drive benefitting the state’s eight regional food banks. This year’s competition attracted 14 local firms.

“We are so thankful for the legal community, which works hard year after year to continue to give back to local individuals in need,” said Kay Blackstock, executive director of Georgia Mountain Food Bank. “Their efforts do not go unnoticed and we are better off because of their generosity.”

The winners were recognized today at the Gainesville Civic Center during Law Day. Whelchel, Dunlap, Jarrard & Walker, LLP placed first, donating $8,330.91 and 55 pounds of food. Stewart, Melvin and Frost, LLP placed second, donating $5,735.00 and 39 pounds of food. Hulsey, Oliver & Mahar, LLP placed third, donating $1,567.00 and 59 pounds of food.

Each year, the competition occurs during the spring to help food banks prepare for the increased demand for food in the summer. Students who typically depend on free or reduced meals at school rely on the food banks’ resources when school is not in session.

“The timing of the competition allows us to move into the summer months well-prepared to feed the more than 50 percent of students who rely on free or reduced meals during the school year,” Blackstock said.

The following local attorneys participated in this year’s Legal Food Frenzy competition:

  • Bishop Law, LLC
  • Clyde Y. Morris, LLC
  • Coleman, Chambers & rogers, LLP
  • District Attorney of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit
  • Forsyth County Bar Association
  • Fox, Chandler, Homans, Hicks & McKinnon, LLP
  • Georgia Legal Services Program
  • Hall County Public Defender Office
  • Hasty Pope, LLP
  • Hulsey, Oliver & Mahar, LLP
  • Jarrard & Davis, LLP
  • Jennifer McCall, Attorney at Law, LLC
  • Stewart, Melvin and Frost LLP
  • Whelchel, Dunlap, Jarrard & Walker, LLP

For more information about Georgia Mountain Food Bank, including ways your organization can help host a local food or funds drive, please visit gamountainfoodbank.org/how-you-can-help/.