Food Bank of Northeast Georgia cuts ribbon to new facility in Athens

The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia held a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Thursday to announce the completion of its new warehouse and headquarters in Athens.

Erin Barger, president and CEO of the Food Bank, noted the new facility on Newton Bridge Road was necessary to provide food for those it serves in the region.

The Food Bank has “mobilized more pounds of food than any year in history,” she told a large crowd that gathered not only for the ribbon cutting, but for a mid-year event staged by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Food Bank serves people in 15 counties ranging from Clarke County to Rabun County, where another warehouse facility is located.

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The new facility was announced in October 2022, when a Georgia Department of Community Affairs commissioner arrived in Athens with a symbolic check for $8.9 million, a share of a $82 million federal grant awarded to Georgia.

Barger described the grant as “game changing, life changing.”

The Food Bank was awarded the money, but it required the Food Bank to raise an additional $6 million more to complete the $15 million project.

Barger also praised the Food Bank staff who kept the Food Bank smoothly operating during the process of moving across the road into the new facility.

Rusty Haygood, a deputy commissioner with Community Affairs, said that the $8.9 million grant at the time was the largest ever awarded in Georgia.

“It is very satisfying for us to have been a small part in completing this. We were able to bring a check to the table, but the real work was done by the staff, the board and more importantly by the donors and contributors around this room,” Haygood said.

Kevin Price, president of Kevin Price Construction, described the new facility as a “generational landmark” that will serve the area for years to come.

Price said he was thankful for the collaboration his construction team had with the Food Bank staff and the plans designed by Armentrout Matheny Thurmond, an architectural and engineering firm in Athens.

Money from the project went to a lot of subcontractors in the area, according to Price.

“A lot of that money was plowed back into our community and that means a lot,” he said.

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz also praised the Food Bank staff and those who partnered with the effort to make the new facility a reality.

Billy Porter, who serves as chairman for the Food Bank Board of Directors, praised the “thoughtful and intelligent board decisions” that assisted in making the facility a success.

“We took it upon ourselves, and rightfully so, to be stewards. You trusted us. We were trusted with millions of dollars,” Porter said.

Barger made special note to recognize Richard Boone of Athens, who she said has served the Food Bank “with dedication and devotion.”

An aisle in the warehouse is named Boone Boulevard in honor of the man who has served on the Food Bank board and made numerous donations over the years.

“He is our founding father,” Barger said. “We love you very much.”