Supply: rand Communications Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Enviornment / ATL Hawks
State Farm Enviornment became a full-court press towards starvation as greater than 5,000 volunteers joined the Atlanta Hawks for the fifth annual Million Meal Pack, assembling a formidable 1,045,272 meals to combat meals insecurity throughout metro Atlanta.
The initiative, the group’s largest single-day neighborhood occasion of the yr, was powered by a lineup that fused sports activities, music, and public service. Hawks gamers Mouhamed Gueye and Keaton Wallace packed containers alongside Atlanta Metropolis Councilmember Matt Westmoreland, State Director for U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, Shamea Mortion, Bee Nguyen, and musical company Roscoe Sprint, Kaliii, Ayo & Teo, Okay’alley, Sean Garrett, and Duke Deuce.
State Farm’s Director of Company Duty Irma Bantista advised BOSSIP the day started with “tons and many power” and a transparent goal.
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“Total, we’re anticipating 11,000 volunteers to return right here to the State Farm Enviornment,” Bantista stated. “When a neighborhood comes collectively for a standard trigger, there’s no stopping us. We’re planning to have a million meals for the neighborhood, and we’re enthusiastic about it.”
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From the second the primary 8 a.m. shift kicked off, the world ground reworked into an meeting line of influence. 5 volunteer shifts packed and sealed meals sure for associate companies, together with the Atlanta Neighborhood Meals Financial institution, Hosea Helps, Midwest Meals Financial institution, Salvation Military of Metro Atlanta, and Sweetwater Mission.
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Bantista famous that the partnership with U.S. Starvation was key.
“They assist us determine the alternatives with meals insecurity…they usually additionally assist us distribute the meals afterwards,” she defined. “We see ourselves nearly as good neighbors, and we don’t simply say it as a slogan, we imply it.”
Atlanta Roots & Household Classes
For Tanesha Fisher-Cager, volunteering was each private and generational.
“I’m a sorority lady, and we consider in service to all mankind,” Fisher-Cager, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. advised BOSSIP. “I additionally wished to indicate my daughters, Lauryn and Reese, what being a neighborhood activist and being energetic of their communities means. I grew up getting Packer meals and Meals on Wheels in my family, and it’s a giant deal for me for them to know to offer again and pay it ahead.”
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As a proud Grady child born and raised in Atlanta, Fisher-Cager stated her daughters have been born overseas and don’t share the identical hometown upbringing—making Saturday’s expertise much more significant as a dwelling lesson in native service.
Kaliii Brings the Tradition
Atlanta’s personal Kaliii stepped into the Million Meal Pack with the identical grind she places into her music.
The rapper advised me it was her first time on the occasion, and she or he got here with one objective in thoughts: giving again.
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“It’s thrilling. I like to offer again, you realize—they present up for me, so I present up,” Kaliii stated. “I’ve been outdoors speaking to individuals and packing some meals for the individuals of Atlanta. The power is nice, and I’m vibing.”
As a brand new mother, she admitted she wished her child might be there too.
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“Actually, I want she might be right here, however she’s out of city along with her grandma,” she shared. “Nonetheless, it feels good being right here. I’m lucky that I healed rapidly from surgical procedure and will get again outdoors, grinding and serving to out.”
The “Space Codes” artist added that giving again is about motion, not simply intention.
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“For those who suppose you need to assist and be a part of one thing, simply rise up and do it. Don’t procrastinate. Simply do it.”
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Kaliii additionally revealed she’s locked within the studio.
“I’m engaged on a mission proper now,” she confirmed. “I’m grinding and I’m in that mode.”
Protecting the Momentum Excessive
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With hours of packing forward, the vibe stayed upbeat because of stay DJ units and a Road Fest celebration on State Farm Drive that stretched till 6 p.m. Bantista stated State Farm brokers, staff, and Atlanta households stored the power electrical.
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“I used to be tremendous impressed this morning seeing numerous little children are available with their grandparents or their mother and father,” she stated. “If we will encourage others to do good, particularly at a youthful age…think about what they will do. Immediately is about sooner or later, a million meals, however we’re hoping individuals go away impressed to go do even better issues.”
The ultimate numbers advised the story:
2,672 baggage of meals
134,288 kilos of meals
3,630 containers packed
288 meals per field / 48 baggage per field
Impression Past a Single Day
This fifth Million Meal Pack builds on a legacy of service. Since 2019, the Hawks and State Farm have hosted 4 earlier occasions, rallying 21,000+ volunteers to pack over 4.1 million meals.
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Earlier this yr, in addition they opened the twelfth Good Neighbor Membership in Atlanta’s historic Pittsburgh neighborhood and launched STEM-focused initiatives just like the “Secrets and techniques of Science” collection for native college students.
Larger Than Basketball
In line with the Atlanta Neighborhood Meals Financial institution, one in seven Georgians and one in 5 youngsters face meals insecurity.
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By combining philanthropy with sustainability—State Farm Enviornment once more earned **TRUE Zero Waste Platinum certification, diverting over 90% of occasion supplies from landfills—the Hawks and State Farm proved that Atlanta’s recreation plan for change doesn’t finish on the buzzer.
As Kaliii reminded, “They present up for me, so I present up.”
This yr’s Million Meal Pack wasn’t nearly meals; it was about modeling what occurs when a metropolis unites for a shared goal.
Supply: rand Communications Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Enviornment / ATL Hawks
