News article
Hawks and State Farm’s one million meal pledge
The Atlanta Hawks and its arena naming rights partner State Farm are aiming to net a new record with this year’s Million Meal Pack initiative, which sees food bundles distributed to local communities in need.
More than 6,000 volunteers will help to pack one million meals as they look to reach the target in just 450 minutes, setting a new record.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) team will be represented by the likes of Chief Executive Steve Koonin and Vice President of Community Impact and Basketball Programmes Jon Babul, as well as State Farm’s Corporate Responsibility Director Irma Bantista and Tanya James, Corporate Responsibility Manager.
The meals packed will be distributed throughout Atlanta with the operational support of US Hunger, a hunger relief organisation which offers programmes designed to help feed people struggling with food insecurity.
According to the Atlanta Community Food Bank, one in eight in the state of Georgia are ‘food insecure’, including one in six children.
In 2023, a total of 1,020,672 meals were packed with 131,128 pounds of food by 5,000 volunteers.
“The Million Meal pack promotes a sense of community and helps support the efforts of our non-profit partners who are dedicated to feeding metro Atlanta every single day."
The packs are distributed to the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Hosea Helps, Midwest Food Bank Georgia, Sweetwater Mission and the Salvation Army for the Metro Atlanta area.
“This signature community event in partnership with State Farm continues to show our commitment to supporting our local communities and being good neighbours,” said Koonin. “We are excited to open this opportunity to all of Atlanta and look forward to more than 6,000 volunteers joining us to help us pack one million meals as we work together to combat food insecurity.”
State Farm’s James added: “State Farm is excited to announce our fourth Million Meal Pack in partnership with the Atlanta Hawk. Battling food security is important because it addresses an essential human need.
“The Million Meal pack promotes a sense of community and helps support the efforts of our non-profit partners who are dedicated to feeding metro Atlanta every single day. State Farm is proud to be a part of this community initiative as we strive to build safer, stronger and better educated communities.”
Image: Atlanta Hawks