In the midst of a pandemic and a difficult financial year for Atlanta apartment communities and their residents, the Atlanta Apartment Association (AAA) concluded its 34thannual Food-A-Thon on Friday, Nov. 13, with an avalanche of donations from its members to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
While COVID-19 resulted in a toned-down Food-a-Thon finale that usually includes a vibrant parade and celebration, AAA’s 1,500 member organizations still turned out in force at the Food Bank’s new headquarters in East Point, Georgia. In all, they donated $856,874 in cash and 93,215 pounds of food – enough to provide 6.06 million meals for food insecure individuals and families around metro Atlanta and north Georgia.
“Never before has donating food to the hungry taken on the importance it has during COVID-19 and the resulting recession, which makes these contributions by our members more heartwarming than ever,” said Bobby West, AAA chair and managing partner at TriBridge Residential. “Many of our members, while struggling to meet their financial commitments as their tenants struggle to pay rent, rose to the challenge and raised enough money and food to feed thousands of Georgia families.”
Since the inception of Food-a-Thon, AAA has contributed more than 123 million meals to the Food Bank. This has transformed Food-a-Thon into one of the largest food and fund drives in the country.
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the demand for food assistance in Georgia skyrocketed this year, with 1 in 6 residents food insecure. In 2020 alone, the Food Bank has distributed more than 67 million meals for the community.
To honor the Food Bank’s efforts, AAA also provided free Chick-fil-A boxed lunches to Food Bank staff and awarded a $1,500 check to one Food Bank employee to help with their future housing costs.