Twenty volunteers from the Ford Motor Company came out on May 13 to the Atlanta Community Food Bank to help sort donated groceries that are distributed among 700 agencies and 38 counties in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia.
“[Ford] knows cars and the [Atlanta Community Food Bank] knows food donations and distribution,” said Jim Vella, President of Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “With the company’s contribution, we are able to apply our resources to really maximize a community need.”
The Detroit-based car company announced a $2,5000 donations as a part of its long-term pledge and two trucks, an F-550 and Transit Connect, through its philanthropic arm, Ford Fund. The two customized trucks will enable the food bank to respond to disasters immediately and expand its service throughout Georgia.
"We are beginning a long-term relationship with [Ford], and with such a generous donation we are able to service those in need more efficiently and swiftly," said Bill Bolling, founder and executive director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Although the nonprofit receives close to 1,000 volunteers and distributes two million pounds of food per month, the need for volunteers and donations has risen in the recent years as those needing assistance has increased.
Fighting the hunger problem, Ford also plans to send a fleet of mobile food pantries that will serve those in need. “We see fighting hunger as a building block to breaking the cycle of poverty, abuse and so much more,” added Vella.
The philanthropic effort was a part of Ford’s new Operation Goodwill, partnered with local Ford and Lincoln dealers, that will exceed $1 million in donations in 2011-12 to support Atlanta’s nonprofit and educational initiatives extending the company's long-term relationship with the city. In addition to the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the contributions will also support organizations such as Georgia Institute of Technology, Zoo Atlanta, Imagine it! Children’s Museum of Atlanta and more.
In other news: The Ford Fund partnered with Georgia Tech to build the nation's first "Green Eco School Bus" which entailed a standard 16-passenger school bus, donated by Atlanta Public Schools, to be remodeled into a hydraulic hybrid that runs on recycled biofuel, a renewable energy resource. The long-term research hopes to result in reduction of diesel fuel costs for school districts and greenhouse gas emissions. The project was funded by Ford College Community Challenge Grant that awards five $50,000 grants for student-led projects that match university resources with an urgent community need related to sustainability.
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