Atlanta Public Schools and Benjamin E. Mays High School Connect Families With Essential Resources

Benjamin E. Mays High School Food Distribution event. Photo by: Allison M. Slocum, APS ©

Benjamin E. Mays High School hosted a food distribution event to support its community, distributing thousands of pounds of groceries to families facing food insecurity. The event, organized in partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, drew nearly 200 families and highlighted the school’s efforts to support its students and the neighboring community.

Students from Mays High School played a central role, loading nearly 10,000 pounds of donated groceries into vehicles throughout the morning.

The effort came at a time when food insecurity continues to affect Georgia households at significant levels. According to Feeding America, approximately one in five children in the state lacks consistent access to adequate nutrition, and many families rely on programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to bridge this gap.

The Atlanta Community Food Bank, which distributed the equivalent of 112 million meals across 29 counties this year, views school-based partnerships as a crucial means of reaching vulnerable residents.

Benjamin E. Mays High School Food Distribution event. Photo by: Allison M. Slocum, APS ©

Maggie Hill, an administrative specialist at the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s school pantry programs, said working with schools like Mays allows the organization to connect with families who may not otherwise know where to turn.

“It’s one of our primary ways of getting food into the community,” Hill said. “Schools are a great resource because they’re already in touch with children from the community. It’s really easy for us to reach out to families and other people who might not know about nonprofits or organizations they can turn to, but everyone has a school they attend, so it’s vital.”

Hill added that the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s mission is rooted in meeting a basic need.

“I’m really proud of the work we do at the food bank to help the community,” Hill said. “Food is a basic necessity for everyone, so if we can supplement it, if we can help in any way to alleviate that concern from families, they can focus more on other things, such as rent, utilities, clothing, or transportation. Anything we can do to decrease that concern for families in any way possible, I consider it a great honor.”

Self-advancing photo slideshow: Benjamin E. Mays High School Food Distribution event. Photo by: Allison M. Slocum, APS ©

Atlanta Public Schools (APS) will continue its partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank by hosting a free drive-through food distribution on the last Monday of every month, starting in January 2026, at the APS Student & Family Support Hub.

APS families are also encouraged to visit the APS Goodr Grocery Store at the APS Student & Family Support Hub by calling 404.802.1900 to schedule an appointment.

Additionally, Atlanta Public Schools has expanded its APS CARES options to include food and transportation resources, which can be found on the APS Food Now website. APS families in need of immediate food assistance are encouraged to text “FINDFOOD” to 888.976.2232 for local food programs.