East Cobb Community Service

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In early October, Cobb Community Foundation (“CCF”) distributed a survey to Cobb non-profits providing food, meals or financial assistance as part of their mission. “We were anxious to hear from those with ‘boots on the ground’ what they saw as the continuing need, but also wanted to share with our community the work that these organizations are doing” explains Shari Martin, President and CEO of CCF. “The staff and dedicated volunteers are truly among the many heroes of this pandemic.”

While the survey asked questions about prepared meal delivery and financial assistance, the biggest story of the survey, Martin says, revolves around food. The 32 non-profits responding to the survey reported that over 8.3 million pounds of unprepared food had been delivered or distributed at over 110 locations since April. This number excludes summer lunch deliveries. Because the reporting process varies among organizations, it’s difficult to determine exactly how many non-duplicated families have received assistance. However, using Feeding America’s estimate that an average meal is 1.2 pounds of food, it’s fair to say that over 6.9 million meals have been provided.

Non-profit staff members and volunteers alike shared stories in the survey of the incredible level of need as well as the overwhelming gratitude expressed by those receiving the food. Luther Washington of Family Life Restoration Center reported, “Within the past six months, we have provided emergency food for families that NEVER had to rely on food banks. This pandemic has caused major strains not only on the working poor who we normally see but those that have been on furlough, lost jobs and had a reduction in hours. We had a young lady that worked for a rental car company that after work was sleeping in one the cars with her two children.”

Betsy Mathews serves as Development Director for Cobb’s YMCA’s and, like almost every YMCA staff member, has been working the food distribution lines. “Families have shared how they’ve had to decide if they pay the power bill or buy groceries, and how this has made all the difference.”

In addition to the food they deliver during the week to several different senior communities, Reflections of Trinity in Powder Springs distributes food to 650 – 750 families each Saturday. One client, “David,” is typically among the first 10 cars in line every Saturday morning, as he arrives around 6:00 a.m. each week. CEO Laurie Wong shares that in addition to both having battled COVID-19, David and his wife both lost their jobs in April. “They have no other food support other than SNAP [the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program] and the food they receive from us.” 

Survey respondents estimated that, in addition to their existing resources and anticipated receipts, they would need an additional $675,000 to fund the necessary purchases of food through the end of the year. Many of the organizations distributing food are members of the Atlanta Community Food Bank and receive food for pennies on the pound. “Most also receive food through the Cobb Community Food Fleet which distributes the Farmers to Families food boxes,” says Howard Koepka.

Koepka is with Noonday Association of Churches which operates Storehouse Ministries, a distributor to over 25 Cobb County churches. Koepka also manages the Cobb Community Food Fleet. These food boxes, he says, have made up about 15% of the 8.3 million pounds distributed between April 1 and September 30. Koepka says that even with the volume of food accessible to the non-profits for little or no cost, non-profits are still having to purchase from commercial suppliers to meet the need.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners, who received a report from CCF of their survey results as well as results from a poll conducted by the county’s CDBG office of earlier Cobb County Food Grant recipients, awarded $560,000 In November from remaining CARES Act funds to numerous non-profits for the purchase of food or prepared meals. “This came at a critical time. The number of families requesting assistance with food almost doubled at Thanksgiving,” notes Debbie Ginocchio, whose organization, Sweetwater Mission, received $70,000 from the November Cobb County Food Grant.

The survey quantified another need: assistance for expenses associated with food distribution. “Food pantries that were open all week have had to convert to weekly food distribution drive-thru’s. That not only requires more storage space, but refrigerated storage space,” explains Koepka. Many organizations have also begun delivering food boxes to underserved communities, which requires box trucks, sometimes refrigerated. “The cost of providing food is much more than just the cost of the food.”   

Survey respondents estimated costs related to 4Q food distribution at over $200,000. CCF, which has raised $370,000 for its Cobb COVID-19 Community Response Fund, is distributing another $70,000 in grants to assist with these expenses. “We wish we could do more, but with almost $315,000 in grants having now been distributed, our resources are running low,” says Martin. CCF has also been told that, although the program was to continue through December 31, the USDA’s funding of the Farmers to Families food boxes has also been discontinued. “We are exploring various options to purchase the food boxes through the end of the year, but we know that the need for food will not end on December 31. For many, it’s gotten worse, and our $55,000 balance just isn’t enough.”

“There has probably never been a more important time to give,” she says. For more information and to donate to the Cobb COVID-19 Community Response Fund, please visit cobbfoundation.org/coronavirus-information/.

CCF is primarily funded by the revenues generated through its charitable fund services, as well as the organization’s Corporate Community Champion program and other direct contributions. Learn more by contacting Shari Martin at shari@cobbfoundation.org, or by visiting www.cobbfoundation.org.

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