We Are APS: CSKYWLA Social Worker Named ‘Hunger Hero’

Latanya Farrar is a hero to many – especially to those families of students at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy (CSKYWLA) and B.E.S.T. Academy.

Farrar, who serves as school social worker and pantry coordinator with the Atlanta Community Food Bank (AFCB), recently received the Hunger Hero Award by the Atlanta Community Food Bank for distributing over 18,000 meals to 904 families for the year.

In her role as pantry coordinator, Farrar ensures that families and surrounding community members are aware and participate monthly. CSKYWLA established the food pantry in 2015 in partnership with AFCB to quickly distribute large volumes of food directly to communities in need. The overall mission is to fight hunger by engaging, educating and empowering the community.

Farrar actively promotes the pantry throughout the school community and to neighboring residents and senior citizens in the area. On distribution day, long lines form well before the pantry opens.

Thanks to Farrar’s leadership, the food pantry at CSKYWLA is now recognized as one of the best pantries within Atlanta Public Schools.

“Our families and community members have grown to depend on our monthly distribution, and I know we are having an impact when I hear responses like, ‘This food will help me make it through the week,’ and ‘I’ll be cooking a full meal tonight,'” said Farrar, who was the only coordinator from APS to receive the Hunger Hero award. “People are very thankful for whatever food and other products they receive.”

For more information about the Atlanta Community Food Bank and its mission, visit: https://acfb.org/

We Are APS highlights APS visionaries (parents, students, teachers, principals, support staff, community members, partners, etc.), who exemplify our vision of a high-performing school district where students love to learn, educators inspire, families engage, and the community trusts the system. To recommend an APS visionary for a We Are APS feature, contact your communications liaison or email apscommunicationsoffice@gmail.com.