When the NBA suspended its season March 11 due to coronavirus, the Hawks were left with 12,000 pounds of food they had ordered in preparation for upcoming games and events at State Farm Arena, according to CEO Steve Koonin.
With those either postponed or canceled, the Hawks donated what they could to those in need in Atlanta by partnering with Second Helpings and Goodr, which both focus on reducing food waste and instead delivering it to those in need.
Then, to further help underserved communities throughout the city during this pandemic, Goodr CEO Jasmine Crowe pitched the idea of holding pop-up grocery stores, which the Hawks and Goodr had teamed up to do once before in January of 2019.