Chick-fil-A commits $1 million to Feeding America for Hunger

Chick-fil-A is amplifying its hunger relief efforts this September, which is Hunger Action Month. The Atlanta-based fast-food chicken chain plans to donate up to $1 million to Feeding America partner food banks by matching funds raised through community fundraisers in more than 40 U.S. Markets.

Additionally, for each of 15 new restaurants opening throughout the month, Chick-fil-A will donate $25,000 to a local Feeding America partner. The company stated these initiatives build on its long-standing objective to end food insecurity.

CEO Statement on Community Nourishment

Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy linked the campaign to the company's core mission. "Feeding people is at the heart of what we do," Cathy said in a statement. He described using their food to help those in need as a "small way for us to give back" to the communities they serve.

Cathy acknowledged progress but emphasized that addressing hunger requires continued commitment and collective action.

The Shared Table Program's Origins and Reach

The current campaign expands the chain's formalized Shared Table program, launched in 2012. This program enables local owner-operators to donate surplus food to nonprofit organizations focused on hunger relief. According to the company, the program has created more than 50 million meals since it began.

The initiative was inspired by Marshall Wilkins, a Knoxville, Tennessee-based owner-operator. In a 2023 interview, Wilkins explained his motivation came from seeing restaurant waste alongside community need. "I was watching waste from my restaurant being thrown in a trash can and that just never made sense to me," he said.

Wilkins first contacted the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries to donate excess food. His idea eventually reached corporate headquarters and became a nationwide program.

Program Participation and a New York Event

Today, the Shared Table program includes more than 2,700 participating restaurants. This represents over 90% of Chick-fil-A's system. These restaurants partner with more than 1,600 nonprofit organizations across the country.

To raise awareness, Chick-fil-A will host the Chick-fil-A Shared Table Experience in New York City on September 30. For every attendee at this immersive event, the company will donate a meal to The Bowery Mission, a Shared Table program partner.

The company's efforts respond to a significant need. Citing data from Feeding America, the source report states that one in seven people experience food insecurity.