Atlanta Comes Together for Thanksgiving: Psychologists Volunteer for Food Bank
As Thanksgiving approaches, the spirit of giving is alive and well in Atlanta. This week, approximately 15 psychologists from Atlanta Public Schools took time out of their busy schedules to volunteer at the Atlanta Community Food Bank located in East Point. This initiative is part of National School Psychology Week, and it highlights the pressing issue of food insecurity affecting families in need, especially during the holiday season.
The Importance of Addressing Food Insecurity
With inflation hitting many families hard, the concern for food insecurity has become a major topic of discussion. This isn’t just a concern for parents; students are feeling the emotional and mental strain as well. During their time at the food bank, the psychologists helped pack food condiment items and health and beauty supplies. These items are essential and will be distributed to various partner locations throughout the community to help families in need.
Kenny Hill, the Chief Supply Chain Officer at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, highlighted the incredible impact of community involvement during the holiday season. “Everything that we pack here goes to one of our partner agencies. We have 700 partner agencies that we serve in our 29-county area and they’re in the neighborhoods. They are the ones that touch and love on the neighbors directly,” he explained.
The Need for Volunteers and Donations
Hill emphasized that volunteers and donations are especially crucial during the holidays. “It’s critical. Holiday seasons are always peak times for us. Getting families food for the holidays is a seasonal focus for us. We’ve planned for it all year long, but we find ourselves in a time of high need without the holiday season,” he added. He mentioned that the food bank is currently serving over 240,000 families each month, a staggering number that underscores the growing need within the community.
A Heartfelt Commitment from Psychologists
The psychologists from Atlanta Public Schools stepped in to show their support and compassion for the community. Kathryn Powell, Coordinator of Psychological Services, expressed the importance of their involvement. “A lot of our students deal with food insecurities, and they live in areas that have a lack of good choices for nutritious food. So for us to be able to give back to the community in this way really makes a lot of sense,” she shared.
Further emphasizing the gravity of the situation, data from the Atlanta Community Food Bank reveals that one in five children in Georgia are food insecure. School psychologist AeShalon Carter, who works particularly in lower socioeconomic communities, shared her experiences. “A lot of the kids are coming in really not having eaten breakfast or maybe the night before they didn’t have dinner, so just that basic necessity for food can impact their ability to concentrate,” she said.
Taking Action
Carter is proud to give her time to help combat this pressing issue. “Just to be able to focus on what’s going on at school, and that’s hard for them because they’re just kids,” she added. Her message to parents and students is clear: they care and are eager to lend a helping hand.
“I think it’s a great way to give back. Our team was really excited to come here just to dedicate even just a few of our hours of time to be able to do this. It just feels good to give back to those who are less fortunate,” Carter said with enthusiasm.
Ongoing Efforts in the Community
In addition to volunteering at the food bank, the psychologists plan to continue their efforts throughout National School Psychology Week. Their aim is to raise awareness about the challenges many students and families face and to promote a sense of caring within the community. The message is clear: help is needed and every little bit goes a long way.
For those looking to contribute to the cause, there are ways to assist the Atlanta Community Food Bank through donations or volunteering—so mark your calendars and join in the holiday spirit of giving!
