This holiday season, Pizzeria Venti is collecting canned & dry goods that we will deliver to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Between the economy and the Atlanta flood, many of our neighbors are in need this year.

Statistics from www.acfb.org:

• More than 38 million Americans live in households that experience hunger and/or the risk of hunger. (USDA, 2005)

• 14.7% of Georgians live in poverty — more than 1.3 million people — the equivalent of 26 sold out games at Turner Field. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006)

• More than one in five Georgia children live in poverty — 491,794 children under the age of 18. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006)

• More than 40% of those seeking food assistance live in families where at least one adult is working full-time. (America’s Second Harvest, 2006)

To download ACFB’s pdf with facts about Georgia hunger & poverty, click here.

If you’re coming to eat with us, we’re happy to collect your donations & deliver them to the ACFB. And we’ll give you a free soda/tea if you donate items!

Even if you’re not eating with us, feel free to drop off donated items!

To see the ACFB’s list of most needed items, click here.

On Nov 24, the list read:

• Peanut Butter
• Canned Tuna
• Canned Beans
• Canned Soups, Stews and Pastas
• 100% Fruit Juice
• Canned Fruits and Vegetables
• Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
• Whole Grain, Low Sugar Cereals

Or you can donate via acfb.convio.net/pizzeria_venti. For every dollar donated, ACFB is able to provide $5.66 worth of food and services into the community.

For more perspective on poverty & hunger issues worldwide, check out these links:

Global Rich List – how rich are you compared to the rest of the world?

StoptheHunger.com – eye-opening statistics about world hunger, and where the food is going.

ThinkQuest – The world hunger problem: Facts, figures and statistics