Discover the essential food banks in Georgia providing vital services to combat hunger and food insecurity. From Atlanta to Savannah, these food banks ensure that families and individuals can access nutritious meals. Learn about top food banks’ programs, services, and outreach efforts like the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, and more. Find locations, contact information, and details on how they make a difference in your community.
Atlanta Community Food Bank
The Atlanta Community Food Bank is the central hub in the fight against hunger in Atlanta and north Georgia. It collects and distributes donated food and goods while managing logistics and partner relationships. Besides these core activities, the Food Bank offers direct social services, operates supplemental food pantries, and runs mobile markets to reach underserved areas.
Key Programs and Services:
Food Distribution: Receives nearly 9 million pounds of donated food monthly, with 23% being fresh produce, distributed to over 700 nonprofit partner agencies.
Physical Distribution: Partnerships with food pantries, community kitchens, schools, healthcare facilities, and community food centers. Mobile markets operate pop-up food pantries monthly.
Influenced Distribution: Supports school breakfast programs and summer feeding initiatives.
Benefits Outreach: Screens and assists individuals and families with applications for state and federal assistance programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
- Location: 3400 North Desert Drive, Atlanta, GA 30344
- Service Counties: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Morgan, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, Walton.
- Contact Number: (404) 892-3333
- Website: ACFB.org
Food Bank of Northeast Georgia
The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia works to end food insecurity by providing consistent access to nourishing food and relevant education. Serving communities across its 14-county region, it distributes millions of pounds of food through partner agencies.
Key Programs and Services:
Primary Distribution: Works with around 200 partner agencies, including soup kitchens, food pantries, and senior centers.
Online Inventory System and Shopping Floor: Provides access to food through an online system or a grocery store-like shopping floor.
Mobile Pantry Program: Distributes food directly to families in a “farmer’s market” style format, adapting to a drive-through model during COVID-19.
- Location: 890 Newton Bridge Road, Athens, GA 30607
- Service Counties: Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Rabun, Stephens, Walton, White.
- Contact Number: (706) 354-8191
- Website: foodbanknega.org
Golden Harvest Food Bank
Golden Harvest Food Bank ensures that children, seniors, and families in rural and at-risk areas have access to nutritious food. Serving 25 counties in Georgia and South Carolina, it supports community kitchens, urban farms, and numerous partner agencies.
Key Programs and Services:
Child Feeding Programs: Backpack and School Market programs for kids.
Senior Feeding Programs: Senior Food Box Program and Senior Market Program.
Mobile Market: Delivers fresh produce and shelf-stable food to rural communities.
The Master’s Table: Community kitchen in Augusta serving over 300 meals daily.
Urban Farm: Provides fresh produce and eggs for nutritious meals.
- Location: 3310 Commerce Drive, Augusta, GA 30909
- Service Counties: Burke, Columbia, Emanuel, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, Wilkes.
- Contact Number: (706) 736-1199
- Website: goldenharvest.org
Feeding the Valley Food Bank
Feeding the Valley Food Bank distributes food in its 18-county service area through partnerships with over 350 non-profit agencies. It also runs mobile pantries, senior meals programs, and children’s food distribution initiatives.
Key Programs and Services:
Partner Agency Food Distribution Program: Collaborates with local agencies to provide food.
Mobile Pantry Program: Serves over 12,000 families monthly, distributing food boxes with various groceries.
Senior Meals Program: Provides daily hot meals to elderly and homebound individuals.
Children’s Food Distribution: Includes School Food Pantries and Kids Café Program, offering meals and snacks to children after school.
- Location: 6744 Flat Rock Road, Midland, GA 31820
- Service Counties: Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Lee, Macon, Marion, Meriwether, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Russell, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Troup, Webster.
- Contact Number: (706) 561-4755
- Website: feedingthevalley.org
Middle Georgia Community Food Bank
The Middle Georgia Community Food Bank serves 24 counties, distributing food through a network of 200 partner agencies. It provides support through food pantries, soup kitchens, backpack programs, and senior programs.
Key Programs and Services:
Partner Agencies Network: Works with over 200 agencies to provide food.
Backpack Programs: Ensures children have food during weekends and holidays.
Senior Programs: Provides food support to elderly individuals.
- Location: 4490 Ocmulgee East Blvd, Macon, GA 31217
- Service Counties: Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Butts, Crawford, Dodge, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, Upson, Wilkinson.
- Contact Number: (478) 742-3958
- Website: mgcfb.org
America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia
America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia serves as a crucial food safety net for coastal Georgia residents. The food bank supports programs that promote wellness, equity, and food security.
Key Programs and Services:
Brown Bag for the Elderly: Provides groceries to low-income seniors.
Kids Cafe: Offers a safe, nurturing place for kids after school.
Mobile Food Pantry: Serves over 62,000 community members annually.
Partner Marketplace: Distributes millions of pounds of food.
School Pantry Program: Ensures children have access to nutritious food.
- Location: 2651 Causton Bluff Road, Savannah, GA 31404
- Service Counties: Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Jenkins, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Wayne.
- Contact Number: (912) 236-6750
- Website: helpendhunger.org
How Georgia Food Banks Operate
Georgia food banks operate as central hubs in the fight against hunger, collecting and distributing donated food and goods to individuals in need across the state. They partner with local nonprofit agencies, schools, healthcare facilities, and community organizations to distribute food through various programs such as food pantries, community kitchens, and mobile markets. These food banks also offer additional services like benefit outreach, screening for state and federal assistance programs, and nutrition education. They receive donations from individuals, food manufacturers, distributors, farmers, and retailers, ensuring a steady supply of nutritious food for those facing food insecurity.
How to Donate to Food Banks in Georgia
- Monetary Donations: You can donate online through the food bank’s website.
- Food Donations: Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at food bank locations or designated collection sites. Items in high demand include canned vegetables, proteins, grains, and shelf-stable milk.
- Organize a Food Drive: Community members can organize food drives in their neighborhoods, workplaces, or schools to collect food donations for local food banks.
- Volunteer Your Time: Volunteering at a food bank is another impactful way to contribute. Volunteers can help sort and distribute food, assist with administrative tasks, or support special events.
- Corporate Partnerships: Businesses can partner with food banks through sponsorships, employee volunteer programs, and matching gift campaigns.
Importance of Georgia Food Banks
Food banks in Georgia play a critical role in addressing food insecurity and supporting vulnerable populations. They provide a safety net for families, seniors, and children who might otherwise go hungry. By distributing millions of pounds of food each year, food banks help improve the overall health and well-being of communities.
They also contribute to reducing food waste by rescuing surplus food from retailers and manufacturers. Additionally, food banks offer educational programs and resources to promote healthy eating and self-sufficiency, making them indispensable in the fight against hunger in Georgia.