Food Bank head invites you to help your neighbors

By Erin Barger

As the President and CEO of the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, a favorite moment of my year is hosting volunteers at our site for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This year, we quoted Dr. King’s speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” On this particular morning, we greeted neighbors who were willing to pause their busy lives to stop and help. So, it was only natural to quote my favorite part of this speech, the Good Samaritan: When we help others we ask very concretely NOT, “What will happen to me if I help?” BUT INSTEAD “What will happen to my neighbor if I do not help?”

Today, and at this very moment, we need more Good Samaritans. Would you believe that our lives depend upon it?

Sometimes food insecurity is visible and sometimes it can be hidden from view. But it is no less a human experience, and one that is profoundly stressful. And, therefore, we at the Food Bank thread our decisions, actions, and hospitality with our values of compassion, dignity and belonging. This thread is inspired by the belief that neighbors we serve have sacred worth, and we see this dignity in them, concretely. We are living it out together.

One neighbor had this to share with us: “I work 6 days a week and have for 6 years now. I take care of my mom who lives with me. No matter how hard I try it seems like I can barely keep my head above water. Thank you for being so nice and not making people feel embarrassed.”

Another person bravely said, “if it wasn’t for y’all I wouldn’t eat.”

The Food Bank honors these resilient humans and for us, their ongoing hunger in a land of plenty is something we cannot accept. Our team has doubled its food purchasing efforts, grown partnerships with Georgia farmers, and deepened partnerships to meet this moment with both tenacity and grace.

But we can’t do it alone. We need you by our side.

In 2024, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia distributed 5,375,417 pounds of food—equivalent to 4,479,514 meals—right here in Athens-Clarke County. These meals nourished children and families, seniors, working adults, and many others through trusted partnerships with schools, congregations, food pantries, and community organizations. We are distributing more food than ever before, and more than half of it is fresh or frozen—fruits and vegetables, proteins and dairy—delivered alongside staple pantry items. Already in 2025, we’ve distributed 3 million pounds of food in Athens-Clarke County alone, a testament to both the deep need and the strength of our community partnerships.

Day to day, month to month and year to year, our mission remains constant: to connect neighbors with nourishing food. And we are determined to make our vision a reality: Every Neighbor. With Enough Food. Everyday. Unfortunately, our goal line keeps getting further away as more of our neighbors need food assistance.

Our most recent data from the Map the Meal Gap national study tells us that across our region, 91,600 individuals are facing hunger. That equates to 1 in 7 people, 1 in 6 children and 1 in 12 seniors. Food insecurity exists among our friends, our family and our neighbors, in every county and in every community.

I am often asked about how the federal budget shifts are impacting the Food Bank. The answer is yes: we have seen several loads of federal food that were en route to us and then cancelled overnight. And because we believe that food is essential, and what is essential cannot be negotiable, we leaned on an emergency food reserve account created for this possible event. That action is your philanthropy and your Food Bank at work.

That’s why now is the time for all of us to learn from each other what the Good Samaritan taught us, and about which Dr. King called to remembrance: it is time to stop and help. Why?Because lives depend upon it, and these are the lives of our neighbors.

If you’ve ever packed a box of food for a neighbor or shared your table with someone in need, you already understand the kind of world we’re building— one rooted in connection, compassion, and courage.

You are invited to join us. Visit foodbanknega.org to make a donation, explore becoming a partner or member, or transform your hope into action by signing up to volunteer.