Cobb Community Food Fleet Makes Last Delivery After 15 Months

COBB COUNTY, GA — Fifteen months, 168,000 boxes of food, 4.4 million pounds of fresh produce and proteins, 3.7 million meals. That's what the Cobb Community Food Fleet was able to provide to Cobb County residents and beyond throughout the COVID-19 pandemic — but the program has come to an end.

Thursday was the last day for the food program, which was established in May 2020 to help fight food insecurity amid the pandemic. A coalition of over 90 nonprofits, churches, small businesses, charitable organizations, corporations, local and federal government agencies collaborated to make the food initiative possible.

Atlanta-based nonprofit Cobb County Community Foundation partnered with the Noonday Association of Churches to oversee and manage the fleet, according to a news release. Costs were largely underwritten by the Atlanta Braves, who also contributed the use of Truist Park's massive refrigerator and loading docks as the first distribution center.

Food pickups and distributions also came out of Cobb Galleria, Sweetwater Mission and Cobb Energy Centre.

Additionally, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners provided $540,000 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase food boxes, but the vast majority of the food was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farmers to Families program. However, the BOC also voted to allocate $1.5 million of ARP Act funds for food purchases by Cobb nonprofits earlier this year now that the Farmers to Families program ended.

The Braves plan to welcome representatives from each of the participating organizations and recognize them during the Sept. 30 home game against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“We will continue to work to ensure that food remains available when needed and where needed,” said Shari Martin, president and CEO of Cobb Community Foundation.

For more information, visit CobbFoundation.org.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2021, about 42 million Americans may not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.