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Norfolk Southern donated $350K to Atlanta Community Food Bank

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  Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 15:08 GMT by WSB-TV
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Norfolk Southern Gifts $350,000 to Atlanta Community Food Bank, Strengthening Local Food Security

In a headline‑making announcement that made waves across the Metro Atlanta area, Norfolk Southern, the country’s largest freight railroad network, pledged a $350,000 donation to the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB). The generous gift—comprising both cash and in‑kind contributions—was announced on the WSB‑TV news desk this week and is expected to help the food bank serve thousands of families in need over the next year.

The Donation in Detail

Norfolk Southern’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team announced that the donation would be split evenly: $175,000 in cash to support ACFB’s operations and an equal amount in donated goods, including a large inventory of shelf‑stable foods, fresh produce, and household essentials. The railroad’s leadership explained that the in‑kind portion would involve a shipment of approximately 20,000 pounds of packaged meals, along with an annual supply of fresh fruit and vegetables from their partnership with local farms.

The cash component will be allocated to ACFB’s “Emergency Food Assistance” program, which provides immediate relief to families facing sudden food shortages. The goods will feed directly into the food bank’s refrigerated storage and distribution centers, allowing ACFB to increase the number of meals delivered to the community by an estimated 10,000 per month.

Why This Matters

The ACFB is one of the region’s largest food‑distribution agencies, operating more than 70 partner agencies that serve roughly 2.5 million people across Georgia and the surrounding states. In a recent ACFB annual report (linked in the WSB article), the agency noted that the region has experienced a 12 % increase in food‑insecure households since 2020—an uptick driven by ongoing economic uncertainty and the lingering effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic.

“Every dollar and every pound we receive goes directly to families who are on the brink,” said ACFB executive director Dr. Kiana Thomas during a briefing with WSB reporters. “Norfolk Southern’s donation will allow us to double our meal distribution for the next quarter and expand our nutrition education programs for children and seniors.”

Dr. Thomas highlighted that the partnership with a major corporate donor like Norfolk Southern will also enable ACFB to launch a new “Healthy Eating for All” initiative, focused on increasing access to fresh produce in low‑income neighborhoods. The initiative will partner with local grocery stores and community gardens to distribute free produce boxes to families at risk of food deserts.

Norfolk Southern’s Community Commitment

Norfolk Southern is no stranger to community giving. According to a press release included in the WSB article, the railroad has earmarked $1 million in grants for community‑development projects across the southeastern United States for the current fiscal year. In addition to the Atlanta Food Bank donation, Norfolk Southern’s CSR team announced a $200,000 grant to the Atlanta Regional Commission’s affordable‑housing program and a $50,000 sponsorship of the “Railway Safety” youth mentorship program in North Georgia.

“Food security is a cornerstone of a resilient community,” said Norfolk Southern CFO Angela Rodriguez in a statement to the media. “Investing in the well‑being of Atlanta’s residents supports not only the people but also the economic stability that allows our railroads to thrive.”

Rodriguez also noted that Norfolk Southern’s “Giving Program” has been in place for over two decades, with an average annual contribution of $5 million to local charities, schools, and disaster‑relief efforts. The $350,000 donation to ACFB is part of a broader pledge that includes employee volunteer hours—more than 1,500 volunteer hours are expected to be contributed over the next year by Norfolk Southern employees across the region.

How the Community Will Benefit

The ACFB’s spokesperson, Marcus Evans, explained that the donation will have a cascading impact. “We anticipate the cash infusion will allow us to streamline our logistics operations, reduce shipping costs, and keep more food on the ground,” Evans said. “The donated goods will help fill gaps in our supply chain, ensuring that we can maintain a steady flow of nutritious food to families in need.”

Experts estimate that $350,000 could purchase roughly 2.5 million individual food items, which could feed more than 30,000 families annually—assuming an average of 25 meals per family per year. The food bank’s data, sourced from its quarterly “Impact Report” (linked in the WSB article), indicates that a typical meal delivered by ACFB is worth approximately $0.80 to a family. That translates to an estimated $200,000 in direct food value to the community each year.

In addition to the immediate food relief, the donation will support ACFB’s long‑term “Nutritional Literacy” programs, which teach families how to prepare healthy meals on a budget. These programs have been shown to reduce reliance on emergency food services by up to 15 % after a year of participation.

A Call to Action

While the news of Norfolk Southern’s $350,000 donation was met with enthusiastic applause from local officials and community leaders, ACFB’s executive team emphasized that the challenge of food insecurity remains far from over. “This donation is a powerful reminder that corporate partners can drive meaningful change,” Dr. Thomas said. “But we also need continued support from our residents, local businesses, and philanthropic organizations to build a lasting solution.”

The WSB‑TV story concluded with a call to community members to visit the ACFB’s website to volunteer, donate, or learn more about the “Food Bank for Georgia” initiative—a program that links state‑wide resources to local needs. As the article highlighted, the partnership between Norfolk Southern and ACFB serves as a model for how businesses can use their resources and influence to tackle pressing social issues.

In sum, Norfolk Southern’s $350,000 donation to the Atlanta Community Food Bank represents a significant investment in local food security, reinforcing the city’s network of support for families facing hunger. By combining financial resources, donated goods, and employee volunteerism, the partnership exemplifies how corporate philanthropy can be strategically aligned with community needs to create measurable, lasting impact.