The 2022 Legal Food Frenzy Competition brought together the local legal community in partnership with Georgia Mountain Food Bank (GMFB) in a friendly competition between law offices, yielding funds to provide over 114,000 meals to neighbors in our area. Each year, the competition falls at a time of great need, since school is usually out for summer, and families may struggle to provide three meals a day to children at home. The funds raised through the dedication of the participating firms helps fill a void that otherwise would continue to be felt at family dinner tables.

GFMB Executive Director Kay Blackstock emphasized the importance of holding this type of fundraiser at this time.

“Every spring, we are forced to face the reality that so many of our local children will be out of school, where they receive two of their three daily meals,” explained Blackstock. “Legal Food Frenzy helps us bridge that gap during the summer months where we know a need has increased. Every dollar donated from each firm helps us meet children, seniors, and families where they are so we can get them the food they need.”

For the past ten years, the Legal Food Frenzy has served as a potent weapon in the fight against hunger – both statewide and here in north Georgia. During this year’s 11th annual statewide competition, 189 law firms, legal organizations, in-house counsel, and courts across Georgia representing more than 19,000 employees raised a grand total of $880,248.08. This is the equivalent of over 3.5 million meals for our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

12 local firms participated in this year’s competition, with funds designated for Georgia Mountain Food Bank:
Jennifer McCall, Attorney at Law, LLC
R.K. Adams Law, LLC
Fox, Chandler, Homans, Hicks & McKinnon, LLP
Northeastern Judicial Circuit Public Defender Office
Smith, Gilliam, Williams & Miles, P.A.
Stewart, Melvin & Frost
Jarrard & Davis, LLP
Hulsey, Oliver & Mahar, LLP
Cook Law Group, LLC
Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLP
Forsyth County Juvenile Bar Association
George W Brinson, PC

Out of the 12 firms competing for GMFB, the local total points winner was Stewart, Melvin & Frost, raising enough money to provide 27, 237 meals. Hulsey, Oliver & Mahar, LLP, followed in 2nd place, with funds raised equaling 16,636, and Coleman Chambers & Rogers, LLP, coming in 3rd, with 11,067 meals provided from funds donated.

This professional community fundraising event helps provide hope to those families feeling the impact of inflation and rising grocery prices.

“The firms don’t fundraise simply to win a competition,” Blackstock continued. “This is essentially a group effort of local firms to compete against hunger. With each donation, we are closer to all of us winning that fight.”

Georgia Mountain Food Bank serves a five-county area, including Dawson, Forsyth, Hall, Lumpkin, and Union counties, providing help to thousands of children, seniors, individuals and families that struggle with food insecurity every day. Through almost 70 partner agencies and programs, GMFB served 658,992 individuals in FY2021. Of those served, 41% were children and 18% were seniors.