Georgia Mountain Food Bank - "Feeding Hope" - 2023 Fall Newsletter

Georgia Mountain Food Bank 2023-2024 Board of directors

Brian Bailey, MBA, CFRE Major Gifts Officer/The Medical Center Foundation

Andrew Beauchamp, GMFB Board Treasurer Auditor, Rushton

Julie Knight-Brown

Nutrition Director/Lumpkin County Schools

Steven Ellis, GMFB Board Chair Owner/Ellis & Company

Jennifer Herring, GMFB Board Secretary Campus Administration/University of North Georgia

Carli Jones

Agritourism Director/Jaemor Farms

Stacey Jones

Division Operations Supervisor/Homestar

Lori Lebow, M.D

Ophthalmologist/Gainesville Eye Associates

John Pace CFO/The Norton Agency

Amber Price

Underwriting Operations Specialist/ Homestar Financial

Casey Ramsey, GMFB Board Vice Chair Director of Emergency Management/Hall County Government

Felix Santiago

HR Business Partner/Ames Taping Tools

Reneigh Satterfield

Financial Advisor, Edward Jones

Jon West

VP of Partner Relations, Atlanta Community Food Banks

Suzanne Willis

Owner/Willis Properties

“Let’s Grow” Capital Campaign

Dear Food Bank Friends,

It is hard to believe that summer has come and gone. Kids are back in school, which always gives us calm, knowing that kids are receiving the nourishment they need from school meals to play, learn, and grow.

Speaking of growing, we have been working hard to grow YOUR food bank. Our Let’s Grow Capital Campaign is at full throttle. This growth will offer countless opportunities for new and improved ways to reach our service area, expand our capabilities to provide meals and services to those in need, and host even more volunteers!

As of June 2023, we were at 82% raised. We still need financial support to have us cross the finish line. Here are ways you can help:

❤ Make a donation using the enclosed remittance (check the box) or call us at 770-534-4111 to make donations over the phone. Multi-year pledges are accepted.

❤ Encourage your church to take up a collection on our behalf.

❤ Ask your employer to give. Many naming opportunities are available to showcase your business.

❤ Host a Facebook fundraiser.

Today, even more neighbors face an uncertain future. Individuals and families who never imagined needing a helping hand are coming to the Food Bank and our partner agencies for the first time. No matter what the state of the economy is, the need for hunger relief has continued to rise. Let’s Grow for them!

‘til no one is hungry,

Rebecca Thurman Interim Executive Director/ Director of Operations

P.S. And don’t forget to join us at Empty Bowl on Friday, September 15, 2023. Individual tickets are $50 each. Sponsorships are also still available. For more information call 770534-4111 or email Colton@ gamountainfoodbank.org.

2023 Georgia Legal Food Frenzy

Thanks to all who signed up for 2023 annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy. This statewide initiative provides food and funds to support Georgia Food Banks. The legal community in Dawson, Forsyth, Hall, Lumpkin, and Union counties competed again this to year to raise support for Georgia Mountain Food Bank. We are truly grateful for their commitment to the communities we serve. This year, we had 7 firms join in the competition! Thank you to Stewart Melvin & Frost (our 2023 winner); and other participants including Jarrard & Davis; Hulsey, Oliver, & Mahar; Coleman, Chambers, & Rogers; Smith, Gilliam, Williams, & Miles; Jennifer McCall, Attorney at Law; and R.K. Adams Law. They raised enough to help Georgia Mountain Food Bank provide over 100,000 meals!

Rebecca Thurman Interim Executive Director

EMPTY BOWL 2023!

JOIN

US, Friday, September 15, 2023

Tickets and Sponsorships

Each year, hundreds join us to take a stand against hunger in our community at our only annual fundraiser—the Empty Bowl Luncheon. Our 2022 event raised enough to provide 1.1 MILLION meals to those struggling with hunger in Hall, Lumpkin, Union, Forsyth, and Dawson counties. Along with lunch, each guest receives a hand-painted bowl to take home as a reminder of the empty bowls we are working together to fill in our community. Won’t you join us in 2023? Individual tickets are $50 each. Sponsorships are also still available. For more information call 770-534-4111 or email Colton@gamountainfoodbank.org.

Celebrity and Live Auctions

Bowls

You can help! We still need 2-3 celebrity auction bowls! The live auction at the Empty Bowl Luncheon was born out of an idea by legendary Mike Banks, who spontaneously asked Phil Neikro to place his hands on a bowl and sign while serving as a celebrity server. From that time forward, we have been honored to have so many memorable bowls donated by “celebrities.” From College Presidents to Music Stars & Legends, to Athletes, to Politicians & more, the live auction bowls have brought many gifts to the Georgia Mountain Food Bank. The story of the Empty Bowl is a powerful influence to attract “celebrities” to participate. As of June 2023, bowls to be auctioned this year are:

❤ Alton Brown (television personality, food show presenter, chef, author, voice actor, and cinematographer)

❤ Trace Adkins (country music singer and actor)

❤ Lee Brice (country music singer and songwriter)

Do you have an idea for a future “celebrity bowl painter”? Please call 770-534-4111 or email Rebecca@gamountainfoodbank.org.

Empty Bowl Painting Parties

If you or someone you know is interested in painting a bowl for our Empty Bowl, now is your chance to sign-up! We need to get 600 bowls painted by September’s event. The cost per bowl is $10. Each bowl represents the empty bowls in our community that will be filled because of your support. You can have fun and help the Food Bank at the same time! For more information, email Araceli Hernandez at Araceli@gamountainfoodbank.org. Running out of time to host a party? We need bowls painted all year long.

Mobile Market Program Launching this Fall

A Mobile Market is a proven solution for ending childhood and rural hunger. The key advantage of Mobile Markets is that they allow for increased distribution of fresh, refrigerated, and frozen items such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats and other protein items food in

communities and neighborhoods that do not have adequate grocery stores or food pantries.

Individuals can shop with dignity at a Mobile Market, choosing foods that suit their dietary and cultural preferences.

Watch for us in a town near you. Support this Program today with a donation in the remittance envelope. Thank you!

what is the difference between Food Banks and Food Pantries

A food bank, like Georgia Mountain Food Bank, is a nonprofit that safely acquires and stores millions of pounds of food— from grocery manufacturers, retailers, farmers, and government programs—that will soon be delivered to local food programs, like a food pantry. Eight regional food banks serve Georgia.

A food pantry is a distribution center where neighbors facing hunger can receive food. Supplied with food mostly from a food bank, pantries feed hundreds of people per week! Locally, you may have heard of The Place of Forsyth or Ric Rack in Dawsonville. We partner with nearly 70 other meal sites,

shelters, community kitchens, and other neighborhood-level hunger-relief nonprofit partners.

Food Banks, like Georgia Mountain Food Bank, also have direct distribution programs, such as Mobile Market that reaches high-need areas, especially rural locations, and the People in Need (PIN) Box Program that provides food to people who visit Georgia Mountain Food Bank.

In fiscal year 2023 ending June 30th, GMFB distributed 8.2 million pounds of food. Since 2008, we have distributed 70.7 million pounds!

Follow the QR Code to sign up today!

Rebecca Thurman, Interim Executive Director/Director of Operations

Bennett, Agency Services & Programs Assistant

Bernardi, Volunteer Services Coordinator

Cook, Driver

Davis, Retail Sourcing/ Procurement Coordinator

Phil Dennis, Donor Outreach Coordinator

Diaz, Executive Assistant

Donino, Business Manager

Frain, Driver

Hernandez, Administrative Assistant

Ibarra, Mobile Pantry Coordinator

Johnson, Agency Services Coordinator

Bobby Leverington, Driver

Alec Tipton, Operations Manager

Eric

Thurman

, Warehouse / Agency Orders Associate