Close to 140 teams competed in the seventh annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy event, designed to help raise awareness surrounding the issue of hunger and benefiting the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The competition generated $287,435, up from $230,104 in 2017, surpassing its $250,000 goal this year by more than 10%.  The annual drive is held in unison by the state’s Office of the Attorney General, the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia and member food banks of the Georgia Food Bank Association.

Statewide winners from the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s 29 county service area were top performers  Joe S. Habachy, P.C, Attorney Justin Oliverio LLC, Jenkins & Roberts, LLC, Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele LLP, King & Spalding, Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC and Georgia Institute of Technology Office of Legal Affairs.

"I know there’s poverty, but to read about children that really don’t know where their next meal is coming from, that’s a different thing altogether. You assume because America is so plentiful that we don’t have the same issues that you see in third world countries or on the same scale. But the truth is that we do," stated Joe Habachy, PC, Attorney at Law.

Additionally, Alston & Bird LLP was honored with the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s 2018 MVP Award for their volunteering efforts and continued support of the Food Bank and its initiatives.  Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP was recognized with the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s 2018 Best Comeback Award for their impressive growth in this year’s Legal Food Frenzy competition.

One in five children in in the Food Bank’s service area are food insecure, and nearly 63% of Georgia’s public school students are eligible for either a free or reduced breakfast or lunch each day; however, 17% have access to the lunch program during the summer. The competition is timed to help the food banks go into summer strong and well-stocked to meet the increased demand for food from working families.