GTLA Raises More Than 47,000 Pounds of Food for Georgia Food Banks

The Georgia Trial Lawyers Association announced this month that the Association collected and raised the equivalent of 47,506 pounds worth of non-perishable food items and financial contributions as part of the 2014 Georgia Legal Food Frenzy. The food will be distributed by the Georgia Food Bank Association’s seven regional food banks across the state, which collectively distribute food to 2,300 partner nonprofits with assistance programs in all 159 counties throughout the state. 

"I am tremendously proud of the generous contributions of so many Georgia trial lawyers during this year’s Legal Food Frenzy," remarked GTLA President Linley Jones. "We firmly believe that hunger is not just an issue of charity; it is an issue of justice. Our members have dedicated their careers to helping those in need, and it is only fitting that these efforts are extended beyond the walls of the courtroom and into deserving communities across our state." 

The Legal Food Frenzy, which is co-sponsored by the Georgia Food Bank Association, the Office of the Attorney General and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia, is a competition among lawyers and legal organizations to provide vital assistance to Georgia’s regional food banks and partner agencies. This year, the Legal Food Frenzy raised the equivalent of 1,140,672 pounds of food from over 270 competing teams. Among all legal organizations, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association was exceeded in contributions only by the DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office.

"We would like to congratulate the DeKalb Solicitor’s Office on being the only legal organization in Georgia to out-raise GTLA in this year’s Legal Food Frenzy," continued Jones. "More than one in four children in Georgia struggle with hunger, and the summer months are particularly vital for our community food banks. Almost 60 percent of Georgia’s children are enrolled in a free or reduced-cost lunch program but less than 15 percent of them have access to the lunch program during the summertime. Through GTLA’s participation in the Legal Food Frenzy, we are able to do our part to keep food on the table for our state’s most vulnerable citizens."