Georgia Mountain Food Bank August 2026 Fall Newsletter
hopeFeeding
CommunityTakesaSwingatHunger
2 We Make Giving Back FUN!
3 Agency Update Insights from our Executive Director
4 Empty Bowl 2026 – A Community United for Good Donor Spotlight
GREENS FOR GOOD Golf Tournament is a Huge Success
The inaugural GREENS FOR GOOD Golf Tournament was a tremendous success, bringing together community partners, supporters, sponsors, and golfers for an unforgettable day at the beautiful Lanier Legacy Golf Course.
From the first tee-off to the final awards presentation at the 19th Hole Event, the day was filled with energy, camaraderie, and a shared commitment to fighting hunger across North Georgia. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our participants and sponsors, the tournament not only delivered a fun and memorable experience, but also made a meaningful impact in supporting Georgia Mountain Food Bank’s mission of serving neighbors in need.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this inaugural event such a success—the Legacy Golf Course at Lake Lanier, volunteers, players, and sponsors. Your enthusiasm and dedication created a day that perfectly reflected the spirit of community and compassion that drives our work every day.
A special congratulations to our tournament winners for their outstanding play and competitive spirit on the course! Thank you for bringing excitement and fun to the event while supporting a truly important cause.
We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our generous sponsors. Thank you for helping us turn a day on the golf course into meaningful change for our community. Top sponsors included Northside Hospital; Milton Martin Toyota; LaserCraft; Cook Law Group; Yellowstone; Busker Communications; Chick-Fil-A; Stewart, Melvin, & Frost; Cadence Bank; Certa Pro Painters; Peach State Bank & Trust; and Milton Martin Honda.
WINNER
The team of Access North Georgia
2nd Place
The team of Michael Homan, State Farm
Longest Drive
Keith Brady
Putting Contest
Josh Morrow
STAFF
Rebecca Thurman
Executive Director
Denise Bernardi Volunteer Coordinator
Skyler Fulton
Logistics Coordinator
Andrea Chavez Administrative Assistant
Jamie Cooke Driver
Phil Dennis
Development Director
Ronii Diaz
Executive Assistant
Colton Donino Business Manager
Clint Frain Driver
Rick Gilbert Food Procurement
Adrian Gonzalez Driver
Cynthia Hernandez
Benefits Outreach Coordinator
Rodney Harbison Warehouse Associate
Lydia Johnson
Agency Services & Programs Coordinator
Katy Kiwanuka
Agency Services Associate
Amy Palmer
Donor Outreach Coordinator
Alex Tipton
Director of Operations
Danny Wilbanks Warehouse Associate
board of directors
Steven Ellis – Chair Ellis & Company
Casey Ramsey – Vice Chair
Hall County Government
Randi Elliott – Secretary Hollis Transport
Francisco Gonzalez – Treasurer
Rushton & Company
Missy Burgess Lanier Islands Resort
Patricia Elliott Retired
Kelly Grizzle
Performance Foodservice
Ari Mathe’
The Law Office of Arianne E. Mathe’ PC
John Pace
Norton Agency
Felix Santiago
Ames Taping Tools
Kellie Sellers
Ganek P.C.
Julie Taylor
Cadence Bank
John West
Atlanta Community Food Bank
WeHaveFun! VOLUNTEER
SPOTLIGHT
When Joey Walker retired in 2019, he spent his first year tackling home projects. Before long, he realized he wanted something more meaningful to fill his time and began searching for volunteer opportunities.
During his career, Joey’s company partnered with Habitat for Humanity to help build homes in Douglas County. After moving to North Georgia, he hoped to find a way to continue giving back closer to home. He was familiar with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, but the drive made regular volunteering difficult. Then he learned about Georgia Mountain Food Bank and connected with Denise Bernardi.
Denise encouraged Joey to come visit and assured him, “We have a lot of fun.” At first, Joey thought it was a little unusual to describe volunteering that way, but he quickly discovered she was absolutely right.
One of the things Joey values most is the camaraderie among the volunteers and staff. “It’s great getting together with a group of people doing good,” he shared. “You can see the immediate impact of everyone working together. The pallets of assorted food boxes go into inventory each week, and we know the food will be in someone’s home within the next week.”
That sense of teamwork and purpose is what keeps Joey coming back. He encourages anyone considering volunteering to come experience GMFB for themselves. Echoing Denise’s original words, Joey says simply, “We have fun.”
Volunteers like Joey make it possible for GMFB to serve families across North Georgia. Whether you can give a few hours each week or occasionally throughout the year, your time can make a lasting difference in the lives of neighbors facing hunger.
BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Provides a sense of purpose and of community
Brings fun into your life and can help you be happier
New friendships
Learn valuable skills
Gets you out of your comfort zone
Sorting donated product
Making assorted boxes of food
Helping with a distribution
Assisting staff at events
Representing GMFB in community
Schedule Your Group for a “Fall Break” Time Slot!
Reach out to Denise Bernardi at volunteer@gmfb.org to schedule your group for a fall visit. Time slots during “Fall Break” are limited—contact her now. Enjoy the benefits of giving back to the community while creating a stronger, more cohesive team by serving together. Denise will ensure your volunteer effort is impactful and FUN!
StrongerPartnerHelpsMoreFamilies
AGENCY IMPACT
Since Principal Jeremy Boleman took over the client-choice pantry at Sugar Hill Elementary, it has truly flourished. The pantry is now open to school families every Monday, with additional distributions taking place alongside school events to increase access and engagement.
This year alone, the pantry has distributed an impressive 30,112 pounds of food to 955 households. Looking ahead, there are plans to extend services through the summer, ensuring families continue to have reliable access to food even when school is not in session.
The Sugar Hill Elementary Pantry has also joined the ENABLED program this year, allowing the agency to pick up food directly from Dollar General. This partnership has expanded the variety of food available, including much-needed dairy products for the families they serve.
FromRebecca’sDesk
HUNGER IS NOT A POLITICAL TALKING POINT
For families across North Georgia, a missed meal is not a political talking point—it is a painful reality. Right now, proposed federal SNAP cuts could have devastating consequences for the communities we serve throughout Hall, Dawson, Lumpkin, Forsyth, and Union Counties.
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is one of the most effective hunger-relief programs in our country. It helps seniors living on fixed incomes, working parents struggling with rising costs, veterans, children, and neighbors facing temporary hardship put food on the table with dignity. If Congress shifts more of the program’s financial burden to states like Georgia and our state is unable to absorb those costs, thousands of families could see reduced benefits or lose access entirely.
For the Georgia Mountain Food Bank and our partner agencies, the impact would be immediate and overwhelming.
When SNAP benefits are reduced, food pantry lines grow longer. Parents are forced to make impossible choices between groceries, rent, medicine, and utilities. Seniors skip meals to stretch limited dollars. Children arrive at school hungry. And charitable organizations like ours are asked to fill a gap far larger than any nonprofit can sustain alone.
The truth is simple: food banks were never designed to replace federal nutrition programs. We are an emergency safety net—not the entire system.
Every meal lost through SNAP cuts will become another meal our communities must somehow provide. At a time when food costs remain high and demand for assistance continues to rise, these proposed changes could push many already-strained families into crisis.
Hunger does not discriminate by county lines, age, or circumstance. It affects our neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and veterans right here in North Georgia. We encourage our community to stay informed, speak up for vulnerable families, and continue supporting hunger-relief efforts in every way possible.
Because no child, senior, or family should have to wonder where their next meal will come from.
ACommunityUnitedAgainstHunger
EMPTY BOWL LUNCHEON ON SEPTEMBER 25
Join us for one of North Georgia’s most impactful and inspiring events of the year—the annual Empty Bowl Luncheon. Each year, more than 1,000 people come together with one shared purpose: fighting hunger in our local communities. The 2026 theme, “A Community United Against Hunger,” reflects the incredible power of people coming together to make a lasting difference for neighbors facing food insecurity. We can make an extraordinary impact when we unite our efforts to create hope, provide meals, and strengthen our community.
forSponsorship information
The Empty Bowl Luncheon is an opportunity to help provide over 1 million meals to those in need throughout our region. As food insecurity continues to rise, your support is more important now than ever before. Guests can look forward to an inspiring program, meaningful connections, and the opportunity to impact the lives of thousands of neighbors facing hunger.
One of the most unique traditions is the opportunity for every guest to select a hand-painted bowl to take home. These bowls serve as a powerful reminder that not everyone’s bowl is full—and that together, we can help change that. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available, but space is limited for this highly anticipated event. We encourage individuals, businesses, and community partners to secure their participation today and stand with us in the fight against hunger.
DEDICATED DONOR
As a committed partner, Peach State has supported our efforts since 2010. They have contributed to the success of our summer feeding program, the Empty Bowl Luncheon, and the inaugural GREENS FOR GOOD Golf Tournament. The bank also allows employees to participate in a bowl painting event each year, giving them a personal stake in GMFB’s signature event.
InvestingInOurMission
FIGHTING HUNGER & FEEDING
Every gift makes a meaningful difference in the fight against hunger. GMFB turns every $1 donated into the equivalent of five meals, and your generosity has a tremendous impact on the lives of neighbors facing food insecurity. GMFB is committed to purchasing more food this year to help our partner agencies “fill the gap” for those struggling to make ends meet. Many supporters are answering the call through monthly giving, but there are several other ways to strengthen our mission and extend your impact.
