History of MGCFB

In May 1981, Rev. Ben Fore, Director of Christian Social Ministries of the Macon Baptist Association, visited St. Luke’s Outreach Program in Atlanta. He returned to Macon with a dream. This dream he shared with twenty citizens of our area, and on March 1, 1982, with $1,000 in startup funds from the United Way, the Macon Area Food Bank was incorporated.

When we began, the Rev. Fore operated the Food Bank out of a donated pickup truck and a small storage area in the basement of the Macon Rescue Mission.

In 1993, MGCFB became a certified affiliate with Feeding America, the nation’s food bank, which led to increased food supplies and funding. Through the ensuing years, MGCFB has continued to grow to meet the needs of the Middle Georgia area. 

In 2020 the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank and our partners distributed a record-breaking 12 million pounds of food. This provided over 10 million meals for our neighbors in need during an unprecedented level of need associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Backpack Program

This child hunger program serves 3,500 children in 53 K-12 schools in 11 counties. The Backpack program provides low-income students with a bag of nutritionally balanced food each Friday during the school year, and during school breaks. Each child receives an average of 10 pounds of food each week, all purchased to ensure the highest nutritional quality

In 2020, 226,124 pounds of food was distributed, all purchased to assure it is the highest quality and kid friendly.

Mobile Food Pantry

To supplement the food assistance provided by the partner agency, mobile food distributions are held to reach more of our neighbors.

The Mobile Food Pantry serves an average of 5,000 families every month. In 2020, 8,760,215 pounds of food was distributed through this program, a huge increase that helped folks in all 24 counties.  A weekly mobile pantry schedule is posted on the MGCFB Facebook page each Monday morning.

SNAP Outreach

This program assists in increasing participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by those eligible. MGCFB staff will provide in-person and over the phone help. During 2020, MGCFB helped 500 Middle Georgians apply for benefits.

MGCFB partners with Georgia Department of Health Services to submit applications and track the program.  To request assistance with SNAP applications (also known as food stamps), please email [email protected] or call 478-342-3218