The National Safety Council recently selected four ACFB drivers for the Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Year award in three categories for the state of Georgia! Congratulations to Khoa Ao and Donald McCloudy in the category of number of years driven, to Jarreth Hill for number of miles driven and Johnny Weems for honorable mention.

The Food Bank distributes nearly two million pounds of food and other donated goods every month to more than 800 nonprofit partner agencies that feed the hungry in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia, as well as several other food banks in the region.

ACFB Transportation Director Charles Weems says we couldn't do it without our dedicated team of drivers who are flexible and adjust to new ways of getting things accomplished. "When we started hearing from some of our agencies that they couldn't make the trip to the Food Bank, we started a delivery initiative," said Weems. "Our drivers have been instrumental to the success of this program."

The Food Bank began delivering to rural areas in 1999, making trips to Cartersville twice a month. Over the years, deliveries have expanded to Dalton, Gainesville, Bremen and even some in-town agencies. Last year alone, deliveries jumped from 10 - 20% of all food distributed by the Food Bank. This month, services to Fayette and Newton Counties are being added.

Whether the drivers are picking up or delivering the goods, Weems is confident that they are representing the highest standards of the Food Bank. "On many stops, these guys literally are the face of the Food Bank," said Weems. "The consistent feedback is that they are professional and courteous, and they do what it takes to get the job done safely."