Joy Banks of Gainesville was presented the award at Friday’s annual Empty Bowl fundraiser for the Georgia Mountain Food Bank. And wrote on social media Saturday:
“Words cannot express the great honor it was for me to receive the Mike Banks Reflections of the Heart award yesterday from the The Georgia Mountain Food Bank. I have always tried to model my life in the way my father lived his: love God, love your family, love the people, and strive to make your community better.
Serving with GMFB was a natural fit for me. Dad was there at the inception and was instrumental in developing the first Empty Bowl luncheon. I remember his excitement whenever he talked about the planning of the event, and who had been secured as a “celebrity” soup server. He encouraged me to develop a partner agency relationship when I served as the chair of the Feeding our Future program with Junior League, and once my league service came to an end, I began serving on the GMFB board.
I’m the one usually presenting this award and never in a million years thought I would be the one accepting it.
Thank you GMFB staff, board, Empty Bowl committee and volunteers. It has been an honor to work with you over the years. I will cherish it always.”