Local Owner-Operators help neighbors by reducing food waste and feeding families in need
Chick-fil-A® restaurants across Georgia reached a major milestone in May— helping create more than 2.5 million meals to nonprofit partners through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program.
Nearly 30 years ago, local Chick-fil-A® restaurant Owner-Operator Marshall Wilkins made his first food donation to a neighboring nonprofit, Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries, planting the seed for what would later become the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program. Officially launched in 2012, the program helps Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators fight food insecurity in their local communities by donating surplus food to local soup kitchens, shelters and nonprofits to feed those in need. Leftover biscuits, nuggets, and prepped items are donated to nonprofits and incorporated into nourishing meals – like chicken parmesan, chicken and vegetable stir-frys and breakfast casseroles.
The program reflects a simple goal: reduce food waste and help nourish the communities we serve.
Feeding neighbors in need
Many local Owner-Operators see Shared Table as a way to live out their commitment to community care—including John Crays, local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A at Avalon in Alpharetta, Georgia. John’s restaurant has partnered with North Fulton Community Charities (NFCC) since 2017, creating nearly 20,000 meals for the organization through surplus food donations.
“My restaurant is in an affluent part of our state, so people sometimes think we don’t have hunger issues here,” John said. “But food insecurity and homelessness are real, and our partnership with NFCC helps us make a meaningful difference in our community.”
“It would be a shame for these nutritional ingredients to fill landfills rather than hungry stomachs,” John said.
A warm meal and a warm welcome
NFCC operates a client-choice pantry, which means families can “shop” for meals they want each day. For some, that includes a warm, prepared entrée they otherwise couldn’t access.
“Our clients are always so excited when Chick-fil-A is served,” says Melissa Pinsky, NFCC’s director of marketing and communications. “It preserves their dignity to get a taste of something that’s so often equated with comfort food.”
As food insecurity grows, NFCC’s work becomes even more vital. NFCC served 3,800 households in 2024 and now fulfills between 200 to 300 meal orders each day.
Feeding America estimates that 13% of Georgians, including 1 in 5 children, are food insecure. Nationwide, 86% of the counties with the highest food insecurity are located in the South.
To date, more than 2,500 Chick-fil-A restaurants across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico participate in Shared Table, collectively working to end community hunger together.
To learn more about the Shared Table program, visit Chick-fil-A.com/Shared Table.
