SHA Plays Key Role in Summer Food Relief 

These days you have to look pretty hard to find a silver lining in the cloud that is the coronavirus pandemic. But one of the truly bright spots in this difficult period is SHA’s involvement in the Atlanta Community Kitchen Project. This innovative public/private partnership connects hunger relief agencies with corporate kitchens that have been largely idle during the shutdown, keeping food service workers employed and keeping food on the table for those in need.

The project launched June 1 for the 10-week summer period. SHA teamed up with the Atlanta Community Food Bank with a goal of providing 500,000 meals to Atlanta families this summer. Businesses, catering companies and other organizations fired up their kitchens and put Georgians back to work producing individually packaged and family-style meals distributed by Second Helpings Atlanta. This extraordinary initiative has, to date, resulted in  245,000 meals. 

Corporate funding for the project has been generous and ongoing. The Rotary Club of Atlanta was among the first  and kitchen  participants include The Home Depot, Chick-fil-A, the Atlanta Falcons/MercedesBenz Stadium, the Atlanta Hawks/ State Farm Arena, Proof of the Pudding, and Bold Events

In countless ways, this has been a summer of challenge for our city.  Thanks to the Atlanta Community Kitchen Project, it’s also been a summer of hope, as families and children across the metro continue to enjoy nutritious meals at a critical time of need. With the addition of meal delivery through the Atlanta Community Kitchen Project, SHA has increased our food rescue impact by an impressive 50 percent. It has been an honor to step up and step into this important effort.

It’s not too late to get involved. Learn how you can contribute by contacting SHA Executive Director Andrea Jaron at andreajaron@secondhelpings.info.