Atlanta Community Food Bank (2006)

Before visiting the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) with CityLights on Tuesday, I expected something like the quaint little food panty in my small hometown, a literal panty with random cans of food. However, the food bank warehouse tour by ACFB COO Rob Johnson revealed a sophisticated collection and distribution system, including online shopping for its 800 partner agencies. The 125,000 square foot warehouse looks more like a Sam’s Club than someone’s kitchen cabinet.

The ACFB’s vision is to build stronger communities while also fighting hunger. Rob Johnson shared that food is a core need that connects us all and a tool for bringing about transformation in peoples lives. As ACFB’s 75 employees and 1000 volunteers serve to distribute food across 38 Georgia counties, people from all realms of society are joined around a common need and relationships are strengthened.

The ACFB was one of five food banks in the USA when it started in 1979. In its early days, ACFB was a pioneer in collecting prepared food. ACFB is also a member of America’s Second Harvest, a nation-wide food bank network based in Chicago.

The ACFB existed in a hodgepodge of warehouses until it moved to its new facility a couple years ago. The facility has extra meeting rooms which are available for community use, so contact the ACFB if your organization needs a meeting place. Also housed in the ACFB is “Kids In Need,” a bank for school supplies where teachers in Title One schools can collect free materials for use in their classrooms.

Despite the efficiency and effectiveness of the ACFB, the demand for food for Georgia’s neediest residents is still great. For more information or to get involved in the fight against hunger, please see the ACFB website at ACFB.org.