Going the Extra Mile with Second Helpings Atlanta!

We hope you know how much we value your commitment to driving food rescue routes with us! All of our volunteers “go the extra mile” to ensure that Atlanta is a place where achieving citywide food security is not only a value, but a goal that’s actively realized through hard work and dedication.

Today, I want to share some thoughts about our longer-distance routes and how they push that goal forward in ways that are possible because of your support!

The map on the left shows the location of several grocery store chains in metro Atlanta. You can see that the majority of grocery stores inside the perimeter are located through the middle of the city, above I-20.

When you focus on the food donors we have deep and ongoing food rescue relationships with – Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Costco, Sprouts Farmers Markets, and Fresh Market – the second map is even more illustrative, with no stores inside the perimeter below I-20.

SHA-created map of all Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, Fresh Market, and Costco stores in and around Atlanta
SHA-created map of our network of active food donors (green) and partner agencies (purple) as of September 2022.

We know that food insecurity exists across zip codes and interstates, from the inner city to the suburbs and beyond. Our partner agencies who are located in the southern part of Atlanta are in need of food and are truly in food deserts-there aren’t any grocery stores nearby.

This is why some of our food rescue routes intentionally move food into these areas of the city and can take longer than 90 minutes to complete. We would not be meeting our mission if we only focused on delivering food to partner agencies in a certain geographic footprint and a specific time frame.

We are asking you to consider literally driving “extra” miles to an agency operating in Downtown, the Westside, Decatur, or South Atlanta. Your effort will make it possible for these agencies to focus less on finding ways to fill their shelves and more on the urgent work of feeding their neighbors.We truly believe that every single SHA partner agency and food rescue route is important to the work that we do, and we love and appreciate any time that you’re able to spend with us. There is no limit to what we can accomplish by working together

We truly believe that every single SHA partner agency and food rescue route is important to the work that we do, and we love and appreciate any time that you’re able to spend with us. There is no limit to what we can accomplish by working together.

Thank you, for all you do, for SHA and our community.