Hawks and State Farm® Rally 5,000 Volunteers Pack More Than One Million Meals to Fight Food Insecurity

At the award-winning State Farm Arena, the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm hosted a Million Meal Pack event on Saturday, July 16. 2022.

The Million Meal Pack was the team’s largest service initiative with more than 5,000 volunteers that included families, community groups, schools, churches and businesses who all gathered on the floor to assemble more-than-one million meals that will help feed people struggling with food insecurity.

“We are very grateful for all of today’s volunteers and extremely proud of the results from today’s Million Meal Pack in partnership with State Farm,” said Steve Koonin, CEO of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena.

“Today’s Million Meal Pack event defined what being True to Atlanta is all about and we are extremely grateful for the 5,000 volunteers who came out to help us fight food insecurity. Through our efforts with State Farm, we are committed to strengthening our community and will continue to foster even greater opportunities to bring Atlantans together.” Andrea Carter, VP of Corporate Social Responsibility, Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena.

City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, NBA Hall of Famer and Hawks Legend Dikembe Mutombo and Congresswoman Nikema Williams was on site to lend their support.

“As a community there is a job for all of us in the fight against food insecurity. Thank you to the Atlanta Hawks, State Farm, U.S. Hunger and other partners for standing in the gap for Atlanta families.” Mayor Andre Dickens, City of Atlanta.

Statics provided by the Atlanta Community Food Bank show that nearly one in eight Georgians are living with food insecurity, including one in six children.

Started in 2019 the Hawks and State Farm hosted their first Million Meal Pack , with more than 5,000 volunteers at State Farm Arena. The volunteers prepared more than one million meals that were distributed to local Atlantans through seven community food bank organizations.

This year the meals are nutritious, shelf-stable, dried Jambalaya mix that will be distributed throughout the metro Atlanta area with the operational support of U.S. Hunger, a hunger relief organization with innovative programs. Atlanta Community Food Bank, CHRIS 180, City of Refuge, Fountain of Hope, Georgia State University Panther’s Pantry, Goodr, Meals On Wheels Atlanta, Mimi’s Pantry and Second Helpings Atlanta.

After successfully packing the meals, the volunteers participated in a post-volunteer celebration on State Farm Drive that included  games, refreshments, music and fun.

To learn more about the work that the Hawks are doing in the community, visit Hawks.com/community.