COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The Atlanta Community Food Bank is hosting its 22nd annual Thanksgiving Dish event Tuesday – and thousands of families will benefit from the event.
Beginning at 9 a.m., the Atlanta Community Food Bank staff will be cooking and distributing 3,500 Thanksgiving meals to churches and non-profits, which will ultimately give the food to families in need.
“Communities that were already really vulnerable are even more vulnerable today and there are a huge number of people seeking assistance for the first time who have never need help before,” said Atlanta Community Food Bank CEO and President Kyle Waide.
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While many look forward to the holidays as a joyful time, COVID-19 has impacted so many families here in Georgia. In fact, on Sunday, thousands sat in line for hours to receive free Thanksgiving meals, from Tyler Perry Studios.
One mother told us she’s grateful.
“My family really needs it, I have four little ones so we really this is a big help for the ones not getting EBT or none of that this is the right place to come,” the mother said.
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Knowing this, Waide said it’s their mission to give back and feed families in need every day, not just on Thanksgiving.
“We’re distributing 70 percent more food now than we did prior to the pandemic,” Waide said.
Waide said they’re able to keep up with the big demand by buying more food and getting donated products through federal stimulus programs.
This week, they’re teaming up with churches and non-profits to give out meals that will have turkey, dinner rolls, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans and pumpkin pies.
“Atlanta Community Food Bank has more than 600 partner organizations that we supply with food and these meals that we produce with Thanksgiving Dish will go to some of those partners who then in turn will provide them to the families they serve,” Waide said.
The event will happen at 9 a.m. at the Renaissance Hotel in Cobb County.
Cox Media Group
