Atlanta Apartment Association’s 29th Annual Food Drive Raises Enough Money and Food for 7.87 Million

ATLANTA (Oct. 17, 2016) — The Atlanta Apartment Association’s (AAA) 29th Annual Food-A-Thon raised enough food items and money this year to provide 7.87 million meals to hungry families in metro Atlanta and north Georgia through its partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The record amount is an increase from last year’s Food-A-Thon, which provided 7.29 million meals.

“We’re elated to be able to provide 7.87 million meals this year to the Food Bank,” said Jamie Teabo, executive vice president and head of property management at Post Properties and chair of AAA. “We’re grateful for the support of our members and residents throughout the Food-a-Thon that allowed us to reach our goal and give back to families affected by hunger in our local communities, a cause near and dear to our hearts.”

The event is believed to be the largest food-and-fund drive in the United States. During the Food-A-Thon, AAA member firms collect food items and money for donation to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The theme of this year’s Food-A-Thon was, “Lights! Cans! Action!”

This year’s Food-A-Thon began on June 22 and concluded on Oct. 14 with a colorful parade in which AAA members delivered their food and money donations to the Food Bank’s headquarters in Atlanta.

Founded in 1979, the Atlanta Community Food Bank procures more than 60 million pounds of food and groceries each year and distributes them to more than 600 nonprofit partner agencies serving families and individuals in 29 metro Atlanta and north Georgia counties. For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can provide four meals to families in need.

The statistics on those in need in Georgia are sobering. According to Feeding America’s Hunger in America 2014 report, an estimated 755,400 people in metro Atlanta and north Georgia turn to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families each year. This includes more than 164,000 children and more than 64,000 seniors.

For the Atlanta Community Food Bank service area, the report shows that 80,600 people are served each week by programs supported through the Food Bank, and that those clients turn to partner programs and pantries for help more than 6.1 million times during the course of the year. This means clients are visiting Atlanta Community Food Bank network programs an average of eight times a year.

About the Atlanta Community Food Bank

The Atlanta Community Food Bank is one of the largest hunger relief organizations in the Southeast. We support a network of 600 partner nonprofits - community and faith-based organizations - across 29 counties in greater Atlanta and north Georgia. Together, we connect over 750,000 people each year with more than 60 million pounds of food – or more than 50 million meals. But our work isn’t just about food – it’s about community change. We engage, educate and empower the community to fight hunger. The transformational change we catalyze in the community leads to transformational change in the lives of our clients.

ACFB is a member of Feeding America, the national network of more than 200 food banks. For more information on the Food Bank, visit www.acfb.org, and for more information on Feeding America visit www.feedingamerica.org.

About the Atlanta Apartment Association

The Atlanta Apartment Association is the multifamily housing trade association for the Atlanta Metro area. Founded in 1975, AAA is one of the largest local apartment associations in the country and an affiliate of the Georgia Apartment Association and the National Apartment Association. Currently, AAA represents over 1,450 member companies consisting of 350 companies managing 340,000+ apartment homes, and over 1100 businesses that provide products and services to the industry.

Media Contact:
Chaundra Luckett
Atlanta Community Food Bank
228-365-8733
chaundra.luckett@acfb.org

Savannah Durban
The Wilbert Group
404-343-0870 (O) 404-901-4433 (C)
sdurban@thewilbertgroup.com

For other media coverage on the 2016 Food-A-Thon please click here!