Every Weekday, EY Helps to Fight Hunger in Atlanta

Second Helpings Atlanta rescues prepared food from education center Mondays through Fridays

Professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP (EY) is an active participant in helping to reduce hunger and food waste in metro Atlanta. The EY office in downtown Atlanta has been donating food to Second Helpings Atlanta since October 2016 and increased its commitment to daily pick-ups in May 2018. Initially a once a week donation, EY expanded its program to twice a week during 2017 when EY contributed 2,000 pounds of prepared food representing 1,667 nutritious meals.

“We are so proud to be working with Second Helpings Atlanta. Their mission of helping those who are hungry by rescuing food in our community supports our sustainability program and mission of building a better working world,” said Joe Pearson, Atlanta & Alpharetta Location Manager, EY.

SHA is a nonprofit organization that rescues and delivers fresh, perishable food free of charge. The organization, an official Food Rescue Partner of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, is made up of more than 450 active volunteer drivers. These drivers are matched with routes in the metro Atlanta area that allow them to drive their personal vehicle to a Food Donor’s location, pick up surplus, perishable food, and then transport and deliver it to a Partner Agency that serves the needy, before returning home or to their place of work in 90 minutes or less.

Currently, five Second Helpings Partner Agencies benefit from EY’s generosity:

• Clifton Sanctuary Ministries – a transitional housing facility that feeds around 30 people per day;
• City of Light – a community meal provider that provides meals to 100 homeless clients once a week;
• Action Ministries Women’s Community Kitchen – this community meal provider serves lunches five days per week to up to 90 women;
• North Atlanta Bible Chapel – a community meal provider in Doraville that feeds 50 to 100 young people and adults on weekends; and
• At Promise Youth Center – a youth program that provides alternatives to arrest and probation. It serves breakfast and lunch to around 30, and dinner to around 60 young people every weekday.

“We are delighted by EY’s ongoing commitment to our mission and their increased support,” said Sheri Labovitz, president of Second Helpings Atlanta. “Rescuing fresh, nutritious food from this and other companies throughout the city makes a true impact on fighting hunger in Atlanta – every day of the week.”

Overall, SHA rescued 1,530,976 pounds of food in 2017, a 13% increase over 2016. In total, SHA managed 7,384 pick-ups, with the average food rescue being 207 pounds, enough to provide 173 nutritious meals.

To learn more about becoming a Food Donor or Partner Agency, to donate or join Second Helpings Atlanta’s community of volunteer drivers, visit secondhelpingsatlanta.org.