Georgia Mountain Food Bank - "Feeding Hope" - 2024 Fall Newsletter
www.gmfb.org
Rebecca Thurman Executive Director
Georgia Mountain Food Bank
2023-2024 Board of directors
Steven Ellis, Chairman
Owner/Ellis & Company
Casey Ramsey , Vice Chairman
Assistant County Administrator/Hall County
Francisco Gonzalez, Treasurer
Audit Senior/Rushton and Company
Randi Elliott, Secretary Chief Financial Officer/Hollis Transport
Brian Bailey, MBA, CFRE
Major Gifts Officer/The Medical Center Foundation
Brooke Burt
Health Communications Specialist/Centers for Disease Control
Patricia Elliot
Retired
Carli Jones
Social + Content Manager/Forum Communications
Ari Mathe’
Attorney/The Law Office of Arianne E. Mathe’ PC
Jennifer McCall
Attorney/Jennifer McCall, Attorney at Law LLC
John Pace
Retired CFO/Norton Agency
Felix Santiago
HR Business Partner/Ames Taping Tools
Reneigh Satterfield
Financial Advisor/Edward Jones
Julie Taylor
SVP Commercial Lending/Cadence Bank
John West
Vice President/Atlanta Community Food Bank
Suzanne Willis
Owner/Willis Properties
GENEROSITY & DEDICATION
Dear Food Bank Friends,
As we approach the midpoint of the year, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the unwavering support and dedication you have shown to our food bank. Our newsletter is not just a platform to share our achievements and updates, but also an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the incredible contributions of our donors and volunteers.
First and foremost, to our generous donors, thank you for your continued financial support and food donations. To our dedicated volunteers, your hard work and commitment are truly inspiring. Together, we have achieved remarkable milestones over the past six months. We have expanded our outreach programs, developed new partnerships, and introduced innovative initiatives allowing us to better serve our community, partner agencies, and our neighbors. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the collective efforts of our donors and volunteers.
As we look ahead, we are excited about the opportunities to further our impact and continue making a difference in the lives of those we serve. Your ongoing support is crucial as we strive to meet the increasing demand and address the ever-evolving challenges of food insecurity.
In closing, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation for every one of you. Your generosity and dedication are the lifeblood of our food bank. Thank you for standing with us, for believing in our mission, and for helping us build a stronger, more compassionate community.
With deepest gratitude,
Rebecca Thurman Executive Director
P.S. Join us at Empty Bowl on Friday, September 27, 2024. Individual tickets and sponsorships are still available. For more information call 770-530-7472 or email Colton@gamountainfoodbank.org
Thank you, volunteers!
Did you know that just ONE Volunteer hour is the equivalent of 159 meals created out there in our communities?
We are so incredibly grateful for each and every volunteer that selflessly serves alongside us, in every capacity imaginable, every single day. We couldn’t do it without you!
Join us soon to volunteer. Individuals and groups welcome!
SCAN HERE TO SIGN UP ONLINE
Hall County Partner Agency Spotlight:
Buford Family Community Center
One of the many ways the Georgia Mountain Food Bank supports our partner agencies through our 5-county service area is by providing grants to assist with increased capacity building to serve their neighbors better. One grant of $2,000 was recently awarded to Buford Family Community Center to provide cold storage for their new Client Choice Pantry. Here is their story:
“The Buford Family Community Center has operated for the past six years thanks to financial support from the Buford Family Seventh Day Adventist Church. Our food pantry is open every Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m and is staffed by a dedicated group of church members and community volunteers. We also offer emergency Food Boxes as needed and deliver boxes if a family is unable to come into the Center due to transportation or
Let’s Grow!
How Does Your Garden Grow?
This spring, the Georgia Mountain Food Bank Community Garden got a wonderful and much-needed facelift thanks to Walmart and the Gainesville Jaycees. There is new fertilized dirt in our raised beds, new gravel walking paths, and beautiful vegetable plants that are thriving. This healthy fresh produce is used in our Neighborhood Fresh and Mobile Market programs. Let’s continue to grow!
health issues. We gradually began transitioning our pantry into the Client Choice Program last year. The clients seem pleased with the opportunity to choose what they would like.
We received a $2,000 grant from the Georgia Mountain Food Bank to purchase a merchandising glass front refrigerator and three utility carts. The refrigerator gives clients a full view of the food to make their selections before opening the door and the carts assist the client in shopping and transporting their items to their vehicle.
A church member who helped us move in our refrigerator saw what a blessing this was and matched the Food Bank’s donation with a second refrigerator. The need for food pantries continues to increase because of rising inflation. The added appliances have given us a fresh look, clients can see what is available, and they choose the items they like. With the updated equipment, we have a new look, a new client choice model, and room to grow.
