Atlanta Community Food Bank Raises $885,000 at 42nd Hunger Walk Run
Four thousand Atlantans came together on March 23 to raise $885,000 at the 42nd annual Hunger Walk Run, funding about 2.6 million meals for families across metro Atlanta and north Georgia.
CommunityGNGV Editorial Team4 min read
On March 23, 2026, some 4,000 people filled The Home Depot Backyard beside Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Atlanta Community Food Bank's 42nd annual Hunger Walk Run. Participants of all ages walked or ran a 5K through downtown Atlanta, raising $885,000 that the food bank says will translate into about 2.6 million meals for families across its 29-county service area.
The Hunger Walk Run, first held in 1984, is a signature community event for one of the Southeast's largest hunger-relief organizations. Teams from local businesses, faith congregations, schools and nonprofit partners showed up in matching shirts, with many families returning year after year. CEO Kyle Waide called the crowd "a moving picture of what our region looks like when we decide to act together."
Proceeds from the event help fund the food bank's distribution network, which last year delivered more than 100 million pounds of food through hundreds of partner agencies. With elevated grocery prices still straining household budgets across metro Atlanta and north Georgia, the food bank says every dollar raised multiplies because of donated food and shared logistics — turning a 5K and a family picnic into millions of meals.
Beyond the money, the event reinforces a volunteer culture that keeps the food bank running throughout the year. Organizers said many first-time walkers registered to volunteer at the food bank's warehouses afterward, and several corporate sponsors expanded their giving programs during the morning's speeches. Planning for the 43rd Hunger Walk Run, set for spring 2027, begins immediately.
