Georgia State University Helps the Hungry

The Atlanta Community Food Bank Feeds Families for Thanksgiving

Nov 8, 2009

The Office of Civic Engagement has been putting out barrels throughout Georgia State University.

These barrels were used to collect nonperishable food items as part of a Thanksgiving Can Drive intended to feed hungry people. Students, faculty, and staff have been filling these barrels with various donations of food items, demonstrating the generosity of the Georgia State University Panthers and the commitment the university has made in being part of the community.

Other Parts of Georgia State University That Are Contributing

While the Office of Civic Engagement has played an active role in promoting this generous cause, other divisions of Georgia State University have also been involved in executing the Thanksgiving Food Drive. Barrels have been placed at the College of Law, University Commons, and the Greek Life Floor at the University Center.

Currently, the student body of Georgia State University, as well as the faculty and staff, have contributed nonperishable items consisting of canned goods such as fruits and vegetables, chicken broth, and seafood. In addition, there have been donations of rice, pasta, and various other nonperishable foods. These food items will be delivered to food pantries, community kitchens, homeless shelters, rehabilitation centers, and programs that serve youth and the elderly.

Partnership Between Georgia State University and The Food Bank

The food drive was spearheaded by Kelly Vincent, Student Affairs Advisor of the Office of Civic Engagement. The organization benefiting from the donations of nonperishable food items is the Atlanta Community Food Bank, an active partner of Georgia State University.

The Atlanta Community Food Bank’s mission is to fight hunger by engaging, educating, and empowering our community. It offers a variety of services to the individuals it serves, with hunger relief as its primary focus. The Product Rescue Center, the largest service provided by the Atlanta Community Food Bank, is where volunteers inspect and sort food items for delivery to the many families and individuals suffering from poverty in Georgia.

Other Services Provided By The Food Bank

The Atlanta Community Food Bank also has a Community Gardening Project that allows neighbors to grow their own food. Another service provided by the Atlanta Community Food Bank is the Kids In Need program, which offers free school supplies to schools in which at least 80% of the students are on the free- or-reduced lunch program.

These schools supplies range from pencils and notebooks to book bags, folders, and crayons. Volunteers sort out the school supplies so that teachers can easily find which school supplies their students need. Moreover, the schools that qualify for these services range from kindergarten to 12th grade.

The copyright of the article Georgia State University Helps the Hungry in Poverty is owned by Gaurav Bhatia. Permission to republish Georgia State University Helps the Hungry in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.