In a powerful demonstration of community spirit, the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm rallied more than 5,000 volunteers to State Farm Arena for the 2025 Million Meal Pack, achieving an extraordinary milestone: 1,045,272 meals packed in a single day.
Now in its fifth year, the Million Meal Pack has become the Hawks’ largest single-day community service initiative, continuing its mission to combat food insecurity across metro Atlanta. On the arena floor, individuals, families, churches, schools, and corporate teams came together shoulder-to-shoulder, united by a shared purpose to help their neighbors in need.
The event was more than just a meal-packing marathon. It was a community celebration that included appearances by Hawks players Mo Gueye and Keaton Wallace, who rolled up their sleeves alongside volunteers. The players emphasized their personal connection to giving back.
“Coming from Africa, giving back is something my family has always done,” said Gueye. “To see the community embrace that here in Atlanta is amazing. It’s not about seeing the food packed, it’s just about helping the next man. That’s what matters.”
Wallace echoed that sentiment. “I grew up making and handing out meals with my family every winter. Being part of this helping in the same way with so many people is something I’m truly thankful for.”
They were joined by Atlanta City Councilmember Matt Westmoreland, Georgia State Director for Senator Raphael Warnock Bee Nguyen, and a lineup of entertainers including Roscoe Dash, Kaliii, Ayo and Teo, K’alley, Sean Garrett, and Duke Deuce, all adding their energy and voices to the cause.
Leaders from both the Hawks and State Farm were on the front lines as well, not just overseeing the operation but actively participating.
Jimmy Gillispie, Vice President of Agency Sales at State Farm, highlighted the importance of the initiative. “This is about impacting communities and feeding people facing food insecurity. At State Farm, being a good neighbor means giving back, and this effort ties directly into that mission.”
He emphasized the scale of the collaboration. “We had over 11,000 volunteers — including more than 1,500 State Farm associates. You combine that with the Hawks’ community energy, and something incredible happens.”
A key operational partner in the Million Meal Pack is U.S. Hunger, which helped orchestrate the logistics of packaging and distribution. CEO Rick Whitted praised the event as one of the most unique and community-driven food initiatives in the country.
“This is unlike any other event we do,” said Whitted. “The Hawks and State Farm have taken their own culture from the energy of the game to the spirit of being a good neighbor and passed it on to the community. They do the work, but they don’t claim ownership. The community owns this event now.”
He explained that meals are distributed immediately through five partner organizations: Atlanta Community Food Bank, Salvation Army, Midwest Food Bank, Hosea Helps, and Sweetwater Mission, ensuring that food reaches vulnerable families across both metro and rural Atlanta.
Beyond the numbers, the day left a deeper impression on the volunteers, the organizers, and the community as a whole.
“This event isn’t just about food,” Whitted added. “It’s about culture. It’s about people realizing, in the middle of dancing and packing meals, that this food is going to someone real — someone who needs it. That sticks with you. That’s why they keep coming back.”
The one-day packing event yielded:
- 2,672 bags of food
- 134,288 pounds of food
- 3,630 boxes of food
- 288 meals per box
- 48 bags per box
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