City of Atlanta issued the following announcement on Feb. 25.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ More than Mac campaign, in partnership with Kroger, has raised more than $37,000 to benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Created to support the fight against food insecurity and hunger, the campaign was developed to shed light on an issue many Atlantans face every day.
"We are grateful for the compassion shown during this campaign – from both our corporate and nonprofit partners and the shoppers who stepped up to this challenge and raised awareness and funds to combat hunger in our city," said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “Issues of inequity, such as food insecurity in our communities, must be met with thoughtful action, and we remain committed to finding innovative ways to assist our most vulnerable residents.”
Dollars donated between January 31 and February 16 were collected through Kroger’s Round Up at the Register initiative, where customers had the opportunity to round up their purchase to nearest dollar or donate an amount of their choosing. Donations raised benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank which provides nearly 58 million meals for more than 755,000 people each year.
“We would like to thank our Kroger customers and associates for their overwhelming generosity and commitment to ending hunger throughout metro Atlanta – and especially for the support they showed for the More than Mac round-up with Mayor Bottoms,” says Felix Turner, Corporate Affairs Manager for Kroger’s Atlanta Division. “With Mayor Bottoms leading the charge, we were able to raise more than $37,000 for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The More than Mac round-up is a testament to Kroger’s ongoing commitment to our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative and our vision to end hunger in the places we call home by 2025.”
The Atlanta Community Food Bank works with more than 600 partner nonprofit agencies in 29 counties including food pantries, shelters, community kitchens and other programs that provide resources for food insecure residents. For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can provide up to 4 meals. Through the More Than Mac campaign, more than 148,000 meals will be served.
"Thanks to Mayor Bottoms, Kroger Atlanta and the members of our community who rounded up their Kroger bills. Due to this success, the Atlanta Community Food Bank will be able to further help the 1 in 7 of our neighbors across Metro Atlanta and North Georgia who struggle with food insecurity." said Kyle Waide, President and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. "Thank you all for your generosity and outstanding support of our work to ensure that no one worries where their next meal is coming from."
According to national statistics, 41.2 million people are food insecure, which equates to nearly 13 million children. Additionally, more than 15 percent of U.S. residents live below the poverty line and, working families make up a significant portion of the need in metro Atlanta.
As part of Mayor Bottoms’ One Atlanta vision, the City is continuing to create new opportunities to address and eradicate food insecurity. The cornerstone of this commitment is the development of a resilient local food system to help increase access to fresh, healthy foods and reduce food deserts in Atlanta. Led by the Mayor’s Office of Resilience, this effort will also help preserve and expand Atlanta’s natural environment as the Administration continues to build an equitable and inclusive city. One such program is the City’s Grows-A-Lot program which gives residents the opportunity to earn a five-year license to turn vacant, city-owned land into gardens or farms. Ninety percent of the sites in the pilot program are located in low-income food desert areas.
To learn more about the City of Atlanta’s ongoing efforts, please visit www.atlantaga.gov/government/mayor-s-office/executive-offices/office-of-resilience.
Original source can be found here.
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