Georgia Mountain Food Bank holds 2026 Empty Bowl Luncheon

The Georgia Mountain Food Bank held its annual Empty Bowl Luncheon and fundraiser Friday, Sept. 25, at Lanier Technical College.

This year’s theme was “A Community United Against Hunger.” The event included a raffle, an auction, and a keynote address by Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper.

The food bank reached its goal of providing 1 million meals to neighbors in need across the five counties it serves, including Hall, Dawson, Lumpkin, Forsyth and Union.

Harper, Georgia’s 17th agriculture commissioner, is a seventh-generation farmer from Irwin County. His family has farmed in the area for more than 100 years, growing peanuts, cotton and timber and raising cattle. Before becoming commissioner, Harper served 10 years in the Georgia State Senate.

Harper tied hunger relief to farm security and said the state needs to invest more in the Georgia Grown Farm to Food Bank program. He added he will work with the General Assembly to grow it.

“Government can’t solve hunger by itself. Government can do a lot of things, but government can’t solve the problem. Neither can a food bank. Neither can farm families. But you put all of us together… we can make a difference,” Harper said.

The Hall County Board of Commissioners proclaimed September as Hunger Action Month, with Sept. 29 designated as Hunger Action Day. The proclamation was adopted Sept. 22.

As part of the observance, Hall County residents are encouraged to wear orange on Sept. 29 to raise awareness of hunger and food insecurity in the community.