A non-profit based in Gainesville is working to feed communities in North Georgia as food insecurity continues to rise nationwide.
The Georgia Mountain Food Bank partners with 65 agencies across Hall, Lumpkin, Dawson, Forsyth and Union counties to address hunger in those areas. Phil Dennis, the organization’s Donor Outreach Coordinator, explained that the need for the bank’s services is becoming more prevalent as Georgia’s food insecurity rates increased by roughly 30% in 2024. The term “food insecure” refers to individuals who are unsure where their next meal will come from.
“13.1% is the food insecure rate in Lumpkin County,” Dennis said. “…[In Hall County] it hovers around 14%.”
The food bank estimates that one in 8 individuals are food insecure. Meanwhile, Feeding America, a national hunger-relief organization, estimates 47 million people in the US face food insecurity every day.
Dennis said that in 2021, GMFB created a strategic plan that projected the growth of the organization. That plan outlined a goal of distributing six million meals throughout its coverage area by 2026. In 2024, the organization distributed 10.2 million pounds of food, which accounts for over eight million meals. Dennis said the non-profit expects that number to jump to 12 million pounds of food by June.
GMFB has volunteers who help package boxes with meal-specific items that are given to local elementary schools or directly to families experiencing food insecurity. Among those volunteers is Denny Allen, who has given his time to the organization for at least three days a week over three years.
Allen recalled that his passion for fighting hunger came from his experiences from growing up in a community that experienced food insecurity.
“I grew up in Appalachia, and food was always a major problem there. I remember working with my grandfather- he had a farm- and on Saturdays, what [food] we didn’t use that week, we’d put it all in a wagon and take it into town, and he would give it away to people. That’s how I got hooked on [fighting] food insecurity. I’ve been working at a food bank now for about 40 years.” – Denny Allen, Georgia Mountain Food Bank Volunteer
The non-profit receives nearly 90,000 pounds of donated food from food retailers, which accounts for about 60% of what is distributed throughout the region. From there, the food bank acts as a warehouse distribution center where resources are dispersed among smaller food pantries to serve those in need.
Feeding America reports that nearly 92 billion pounds of food go to waste each year. Dennis highlighted the organization’s partnership with retailers adds a sustainability aspect to its operations by preventing food waste. Retail partners donate food and hygiene products that cannot be sold but are still safe for consumption. Items that might be donated often include food that was returned but unopened, food in slightly damaged packaging or products that were opened but have individually wrapped items inside. Still, all products are examined before they are distributed.
GMFB is funded privately through donors and fundraising events. For every dollar the organization receives, it can provide up to five meals.
“[The average family budget] is being crushed because of mortgage and rental rates, food and fuel,” Dennis said. “Those three things combined are wreaking havoc with people’s budget. If we can remove food from that …they can utilize their funds to pay for other things that they need. That’s why we say the food bank exists to fill the gap.”
