ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A metro Atlanta food bank is struggling to meet holiday demand and is asking for help.

Georgia Mountain Foodbank, a Gainesville nonprofit, was one of several agencies that assisted in Hurricane Helene relief efforts and their response has left the food bank low on resources.

“We were already short on supplies and now, we diverted those as well as have got displaced families into our service areas that are also in need,” Rebecca Thurman, food bank executive director, said. “That’s a million meals into that community we didn’t not get to (because of) Helene.”

Thurman said Helene forced them to cancel their yearly fundraiser, which usually brings in thousands of dollars in donations.

“That’s a million meals into the community we did not get due to Helene,” she said.

Thurman said every holiday season is when demand nearly doubles.

“Our need has increased about 34% over this time last year, but the donations have not,” she said.

Thurman said they’re barely scraping by.

“Often they have to make choices on selected fewer items,” she said. “It’s sad but it’s true.”

The foodbank serves Dawson, Lumpkin, Union, Forsyth and Hall counties — rural areas with limited grocery store access.

For more information on donating to the food bank, click here.

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