Fighting Hunger in Georgia

1. Fighting Hunger in Georgia

2. Georgia’s Food Banks 8 regional food banks with more than 2,600 agency partners serving all 159 counties

3. Hunger In America Study 2014 – Key Findings for Georgia • GFBA Food Banks provide food to 1,444,900 unduplicated individuals annually. • 1 in 7 Georgians • 18% are seniors (60 years +) • 37% White, 50% Black, 7% Hispanic • 94% live in non-temporary housing • Distribute more than 130 million pounds of food annually (108 million meals)through 2,600 partner agencies and pantries (1900 are churches and faith based agencies) • Weekly, 156,500 unique clients in this state are served by a GFBA food bank agency (reflects the fact that food insecure individuals, on average, access the food bank network approximately 7 – 8 times during the year.

4. Product Flow - How Food Banks Work Product Donated product arrives from the food service industry, retailers, manufacturers, distributors, growers, processors and food drives Food Banks Food Banks collect, inventory and inspect product for distribution to more than 2,600 partner agencies in Georgia Partner Agencies Organizations that receive product from the Food Banks (and provide food to people in need) include: food pantries, youth programs, senior centers, community kitchens, day care centers, night shelters and rehabilitation centers People in Need Deserving people from all walks of life benefit from our services. Recipients include working families, those who have lost jobs, children, the elderly, disabled and more.

5. Sources of Food • USDA Commodities 20% • Retail Donations (Dairy, bread, produce) 36% • Food Manufacturer Donations • Fresh Produce from Growers • Bulk Food Purchase (protein, low sodium/sugar items) • Food Donations/Drives

6. The Role of Food Banks – Fighting Hunger • Secure and Distribute Food • Community Kitchens, Kids Café, Back Pack program, job training • Partner Kitchens, Pantries, Shelters • State agencies/programs serving households with children • Link clients to existing economic benefits • Partner with business, government and agencies to promote long term solutions.

7. Challenges for seniors, children and working families • Increasing demand due to persistently high level of unemployment • 27% of client households have completed at least some college, a two-year or four-year degree or higher. • 56% of client households have at least one person working full time during the past year. • Food security/Spending Tradeoffs and Coping Strategies • 76% report having to choose between food and medicine/medical care • 77% report choosing between food and utility/heating fuel • 61% report choosing between food and housing

8. Partner Agency and Program Characteristics Staffing and Volunteers Program Services 41% provide services related to SNAP program 18% provide services related to WIC program 35% provide nutrition information • 74% are faith-based • 62% have no paid staff and rely on volunteers • 58% reported in increase in the volume of clients over the last year

9. Challenges for the Food Bank Network • More clients seeking help • Less resources (especially public sector) • Increasing need for leverage (do more with less) • Developing strategic partnerships • Understanding roles • Health and nutrition

10. Hunger- Health Connection • 68% of client households have a member with high blood pressure • 38% of client households have a member with diabetes • 65% of client households have unpaid medical bills • 85% of client households have purchased inexpensive, unhealthy food in the last 12 months to try and secure food for themselves and their families

11. Ending Hunger • Increase tax incentives for food donation and distribution • Expand the capacity of 8 Regional Food Banks through donations of food, funds and volunteer time. • Connect food bank clients to other agencies and services that can help them achieve long term food security: Job training, EITC, VITA, • Expand support and access to existing Federal programs for qualified participants through the Feeding for a Promising Future – No Kid Hungry Campaign with national partner Share our Strength. • National School Lunch Program • Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) • After School at Risk Program (CACFP) • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) • Promote support of other food assistance programs • Commodity Supplemental Food Programs (CSFP) • The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

12. Partnership Opportunities with DPH • Partner with food bank agencies, mobile distribution sites or summer meal sites to provide screening services, nutrition education services • Provide information to DPH clients on how to find free summer meal sites for children • Screen DPH clients for food insecurity and refer them to the food bank network in their area for help • Identify pantries and operation hours in their location or refer them to 211 helpline

13. Feeding for a Promising Future – No Kid Hungry Campaign • Launched in 2012 with Governor Nathan Deal • Fewer than 15% of kids in Georgia who depend on free/reduced priced lunch at school have access to those meals during summer • Funded by Share our Strength and Arby’s Foundation • Focus is increasing access to free summer and afterschool meals • Capacity expansion for existing providers • Community partnerships to connect sources of food to communities with children • Media and education campaign to help parents find locations of meal sites

14. The Georgia Food Bank Association • Formed in 1985 • 8 regional food banks with more than 2,600 agency partners serving 159 counties; members of the Feeding America network • Enhanced statewide communication of best practices & emerging trends • Statewide coordination of Georgia Food Bank Association special projects including acquisition of food and funds for statewide distribution • Increase public awareness about hunger and the role of food banks Danah Craft, Executive Director danah.craft@georgiafoodbankassociation.org Michele Chivore, Childhood Hunger Campaign Director michele.chivore@georgiafoodbankassociation.org

15. Metro Atlanta & North GeorgiaEast-Central Georgia Atlanta Community Food Bank Golden Harvest Food Bank 732 Joseph Lowery Blvd. NW 3310 Commerce Drive Atlanta, Georgia 30318 Augusta, Georgia 30909-4417 Email: bbolling@acfb.org Email: tmcneal@goldenharvest.org Website: www.acfb.org Website: www.goldenharvest.org Bill Bolling, Executive Director Travis McNeal, Executive Director West- Central GeorgiaMiddle Georgia Feeding the Valley Middle Georgia Community Food Bank 5928 Coca-Cola Blvd. 4490 Ocmulgee East Blvd. Columbus, Georgia 31909-5531 Macon, Georgia, 31217 Email: fsheppard@feedingthevalley.org Email: RonRRaleigh@aol.com Website: www.feedingthevalley.org Website: www.mgcfb.org Frank Sheppard, Executive Director Ronald Raleigh, Executive Director Coastal GeorgiaSouth Georgia America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia America’s Second Harvest of S. Georgia 2501 President Street 1411 Harbin Circle Savannah, Georgia 31404 Valdosta, Georgia 31601 Email: mcrouch@helpendhunger.org Email: frichards@feedingsga.org Website: www.helpendhunger.org Website: www.feedingsga.org Mary Jane Crouch, Executive Director Frank Richards, Executive Director Athens – Northeast The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia Northwest Georgia - Dalton 861 Newton Bridge Road Chattanooga Area Food Bank Athens, Georgia 30604 2009 Curtain Pole Road Email: president@foodbanknega.orgChattanooga, Tennessee 37406 Website: www.foodbanknega.org Email: mjones@chattfoodbank.org John Becker, Executive Director Website: www.chattfoodbank.org Maeghan Jones, Executive Director Georgia Food Bank Association Members

16. Experienced Leadership • Food Bank of Northeast Georgia (Athens) • John Becker, Executive Director 10 years • Chattanooga Area Food Bank (Dalton) • Maeghan Jones, Executive Director 2 years • Atlanta Community Food Bank) (Atlanta) • Bill Bolling, Founding Executive Director 35 years • Middle Georgia Community Food Bank (Macon) • Ron R. Raleigh, Executive Director 26 years • Feeding the Valley Food Bank (Columbus) • Frank Sheppard, Executive Director 1 year • Golden Harvest Food Bank (Augusta) • Travis McNeal Executive Director 5 years • America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia (Savannah) • Mary Jane Crouch, Executive Director 10 years • Second Harvest of South Georgia (Albany & Valdosta) • Franklin J. Richards II, Founding Executive Director 22 years