Middle Georgia Community Food Bank
These agencies in turn provide food at soup kitchens, after-school programs, shelters, senior programs, and other social service programs throughout our service area. The infographic above demonstrates how MGCFB meets our mission.
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.
Service Area
MGCFB serves 24 counties in middle Georgia. The combined population in the MGCFB service area is 716,713, and the 24 counties cover an 8,341 square mile area.
It is estimated that 106,940 (1 in 7) people in our area are food insecure, about 15% of our population. There are 38,560 Food Insecure Children, or 24% of Population.
2. Bibb
3. Bleckley
4. Crawford
5. Dodge
6. Dooly
7. Houston
8. Jasper
9. Jones
10. Lamar
11. Laurens
12. Macon
13. Monroe
14. Peach
15. Pike
16. Pulaski
17. Taylor
18. Telfair
19. Truetlen
20. Twiggs
21. Upson
22. Wheeler
23. Wilcox
24. Wilkinson
Programs
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 cstephens@mgcfb.org or call 478-342-3218
Board of Directors
Eddie Cummins
Board Chairman
Sales Center Manager – Coca-Cola
Danny Thompson
Retired
CFO
Verda Colvin
Justice
Supreme Court of GA
Horace Holmes, Jr.
Vice Chair
Pastor
Bob Hatcher
H2 Capital
Chairman
Rick Byrd
Publix Super Markets
Regional Manager
Alvin Lindsey
Secretary
Fort Valley State University
Lori Ward-Rodgers
Assistant Superintendent
Bibb County School District
Moisés Vélez Sáez
Treasurer
Estas Son Las Noticias
Bill Lucas
Law Enforcement
Retired
Board of Directors
Eddie Cummins
Board Chairman
Sales Center Manager – Coca-Cola
Alvin Lindsey
Secretary
Fort Valley State University
Danny Thompson
Retired
CFO
Rick Byrd
Publix Super Markets
Regional Manager
Lori Ward-Rodgers
Assistant Superintendent
Bibb County School District
Horace Holmes, Jr.
Vice Chair
Pastor
Moisés Vélez Sáez
Treasurer
Estas Son Las Noticias
Bob Hatcher
H2 Capital
Chairman
Alvin Lindsey
Fort Valley State University
Director of Outreach
Bill Lucas
Law Enforcement
Retired