Hawks, State Farm Rally Over 5,000 Volunteers for Fifth Million Meal Pack at State Farm Arena

Earlier today, the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm brought more than 5,000 volunteers together at State Farm Arena for the 2025 Million Meal Pack, successfully assembling one million meals in a single day. Now in its fifth year, the initiative has grown into the Hawks’ largest community service effort, with this year’s total reaching an impressive 1,045,272 meals packed to support families across metro Atlanta.

Hawks players Mouhamed Gueye and Keaton Wallace joined executives from both organizations on the floor, rolling up their sleeves alongside volunteers. They were also joined by City Councilmember Matt Westmoreland, State Director for Senator Raphael Warnock Bee Nguyen, and a lineup of musical artists and entertainers including Roscoe Dash, Kaliii, Ayo and Teo, K’alley, Sean Garrett, and Duke Deuce. Their presence underscored the event’s shared spirit of service and commitment to tackling food insecurity.

Volunteers ranged from families and schools to churches, community groups, and businesses—all working side by side with support from U.S. Hunger to pack meals that will soon be distributed through partners like the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Hosea Helps, Midwest Food Bank, the Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta, and Sweetwater Mission. According to the Atlanta Community Food Bank, one in seven Georgians lives with food insecurity, including one in five children.

“Today’s turnout at State Farm Arena was nothing short of inspiring,” said Steve Koonin, CEO of the Hawks and State Farm Arena.

The event’s impact was staggering, yielding more than 134,000 pounds of food and 3,630 boxes filled with 2,672 bags of meals—adding up to more than one million meals for families in need.

“Collaboration is the key ingredient in our fight against food insecurity in Atlanta – it’s how we feed not only people, but also the spirit of hope and resilience across our community,” said Allyson Watts, Vice President of State Farm.

As the world’s first sports and entertainment venue to achieve TRUE Zero Waste Platinum certification, State Farm Arena also reinforced its sustainability leadership. This was the fourth Million Meal Pack hosted at the arena under zero-waste conditions, with over 90 percent of materials diverted from landfills—down to the last cardboard box.

The Million Meal Pack is the latest chapter in a partnership that extends beyond a single day of service. Since 2019, the Hawks and State Farm have rallied more than 21,000 volunteers to pack more than 4.1 million meals for families in need. Earlier this year, they teamed up to open the 12th Good Neighbor Club at Pittman Park Recreation Center in Atlanta’s historic Pittsburgh neighborhood and have continued to invest in STEM-focused educational initiatives like the “Secrets of Science” series.

Rick Whitted, CEO of U.S. Hunger, summed it up: “Partnerships like this, rooted in deep community investment, are what drive real, lasting change. Together, we’re not just delivering meals—we’re delivering hope, stability, and a healthier future for thousands of families.”

The Hawks and State Farm will carry that momentum forward tomorrow night with a follow-up event at the arena, inviting the community to come together again—this time around the table.

For more on the Hawks’ community initiatives, visit Hawks.com/Community. For more on how State Farm supports safety, education, and community development, visit StateFarm.com/community.