Arby's Grants to Feed More Children

ATLANTA, May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 5 organizations in Georgia will receive a total of $ 411,500 in capital investment grants from the Arby's Foundation to expand their capacity to serve USDA summer and after school meals to more than 15,795 children in their communities.  These grants are part of the Foundation's 3 year, $3 million commitment to the Georgia Food Bank Association's "Feeding for a Promising Future – No Kid Hungry campaign.

"These funds are strategic investments in the infrastructure of the nonprofit network that connects low income children to summer and after school meal programs," said Danah Craft, Executive Director of the Georgia Food Bank Association.  According to Feeding America, 1 in 4 children in Georgia live in food insecure households.  "These children will determine the future of our state.  This is important work."

"We are committed to the state of Georgia and are proud of the impact these investments will make in the lives of so many children," said Kate Atwood, Executive Director of the Arby's Foundation.

Grants will be made to:
Second Harvest of South Georgia - $200,000
2 new kitchens in Albany and Thomasville
America's Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia - $158,000
Kitchen equipment and vans delivering meals 
Boys and Girls Clubs of the CSRA - $20,000
Kitchen equipment
Bread of Life Deliverance/BOLD Ministries - $14,500
Kitchen equipment
Step of Faith Outreach, Inc. - $20,000
Kitchen equipment

According to GFBA's Michele Chivore, Campaign Director, nearly 60% of Georgia's public school children are eligible for free and reduced lunch, but less than 13 % of them access a summer meal program during the summer months when school is out.  "The organizations receiving these capital funds have stable, sustainable funding from USDA to pay for the additional meals.  So the additional children served as a result of the capital investments can be sustained over time."

The Feeding for a Promising Future – No Kid Hungry campaign was launched in November 2011 and is a partnership between Share Our Strength and the Georgia Food Bank Association, with support from Governor Nathan Deal.  The campaign aims to end childhood hunger by using proven strategies to increase the number of Georgia children who eat nutritious meals offered through Summer and Afterschool Meals Programs.

SOURCE Georgia Food Bank Association