The Atlanta Lawyer April 2013 | Page 24

FOOD FRENZY Second Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy By Jonathan R. Poole Strickland Brockington Lewis LLP T [email protected] he hunger statistics facing Georgia’s population, including its children, are staggering. Nearly 60% of Georgia’s public school children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. That is because more than 1 in every 4 Georgia children lives in “food insecure” households. That means that over 640,000 children under the age of 18 lack access to nutritionally adequate food resulting from a lack of money and other resources. Overall, nearly 1 in 5 Georgians, or over 1.9 million people, are food insecure. Lawyers from around the state have heard these statistics and have decided that they must and will do something. firms, corporate law departments and legal organizations. Law Schools will compete from April 1, 2013 to April 12, 2013 (to avoid conflicts with final exams). The timing of the drive is important, as Spring is when the food banks are preparing for the critical summer months when there is a spike in demand. When the school year ends, those 60% of Georgia’s public school students eligible for free or reducedprice meals are no longer receiving those meals. Families of many of these children rely on food bank partner agencies to provide a complete, balanced meal when their children are not in school. Last year, the Office of the Attorney General, the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia, and the Georgia Food Bank Association joined forces to create a friendly food and fund drive competition among Georgia law firms, law schools and legal organizations to support the 7 regional food banks in Georgia. Named the “Georgia Legal Food Frenzy,” the 10-day statewide food drive competition challenged Georgia lawyers to raise money and donate food to their local food banks. The results were astounding. In 2012, 228 law firms and organizations signed up to compete in 21 cities statewide. In total, 15,621 employees participated in the drive and, along the way, learned about hunger in Georgia and the great work the 7 regional food banks do to help families needing food assistance. The inaugural competition helped raise over 600,000 pounds of food for the Georgia Food Bank Association. All of the food raised in the various communities around the state went right back into those same communities through the work of the 7 regional food banks. But even with the success of the inaugural drive, there is so much more to accomplish. Although the support lawyers continue to show this drive is most certainly based on solely altruistic motives, it does not hurt to interject a little competition among lawyers. The firm or organization which raises the most food and money, on a per person basis, will be awarded the Attorney General’s Cup. Awards will also be given to the overall winner and the winners of several different categories, including small, medium, and large firm categories. Let the (friendly) smack talk begin. In its second year, the Georgia Legal Food Frenzy has set goals of having law firms and legal organizations in 100 cities around the state compete to raise the equivalent of 750,000 pounds of food. With the success of the inaugural drive and the continuing support of the legal community, those goals are well within reach. Registration for the 2013 Georgia Legal Food Frenzy has begun and will remain open for all Georgia attorneys up until the first day of the competition. This year’s competition will take place from April 22, 2013 to May 3, 2013 for all law 24 THE ATLANTA LAWYER April 2013 To learn more about the food drive, please visit www. galegalfoodfrenzy.org. The website has all of the information about the 2013 Second Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy, including links for firms and legal organizations to sign up for the drive and contact information for the Co-Chairs of this year’s food drive, Jessica Nix and Lisa Robinson. After signing up, each firm or organization will be sent an electronic “Campaign Packet” that has all the information needed to run a successful campaign. Registrants just set up a box at the office, collect food and money during the 10-day drive, and then arrange with the food bank to either drop off the donations (fo r extra points) or for the donations to be picked up by the food bank. It’s as easy as that! Too often lawyers are perceived in a negative light. However, those who practice are well aware of the positive impact the legal community can have on the public and everything that the profession does to help those who are less fortunate. The Georgia Legal Food Frenzy is another chance for the legal community to come together and show the positive change that we are capable of, all while working to reduce hunger statewide. Please join us in doing so and let Georgia eat! ▪ The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association