Take one look around the Sixes Living area of Cherokee County and it is hard to imagine that the state of Georgia has the 4th highest “food insecurity” rate in the U.S. With the beautiful landscaping, sprawling neighborhoods, and a median household income of $66,505, it may be that the hunger needs in Cherokee County are often hidden.
Yet, according to the statistics provided by Forever Fed one in five children in Georgia live in poverty, and right here in Cherokee County 7% (nearly 16,000 individuals) live in poverty. These statistics point to the fact that hunger and food insecurity are indeed real in Cherokee County.
Forever Fed is a non-profit mobile food ministry that aims to feed the hungry in North Georgia. They are 100% volunteer driven. The fact that they are mobile is essential in meeting the needs of many of the program’s recipients that otherwise do not have transportation or access to provisions.
In 2014, Forever Fed distributed more than 53,000 pounds of groceries, and served more than 25,000 meals. This is certainly not a small scale approach to helping solve the problems of hunger and food insecurity within the community. Fortunately, in December the Atlanta Community Food Bank awarded a grant to Forever Fed. Details of the grant and all that Forever Fed was able to expand upon can be found on page 19 of the April Sixes Living magazine.
Additionally, the Forever Fed website is a great resource for learning more about how to get involved with volunteer opportunities at Forever Fed.