Jim Ellis Automotive Group president Jimmy Ellis says his company is aware that many U.S. food banks are struggling to provide food relief to millions of people.

The company this past May held its first At-Home Memorial Day Sales Event. At that virtual sales event, the automotive group would donate a portion of the proceeds of all new or pre-owned vehicles to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

The company made a collective donation of $35,000 for the food bank. All 18 Jim Ellis family-owned-and-operated dealerships participated in the holiday promotion.

“It gives me and my team great pleasure to make this donation to the Atlanta Community Food Bank,” Ellis said in a news release.

Ellis added, “We are honored to be able to give back in this time of need.”

Keeping customers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic while raising money to fight food insecurity in Georgia were the goals of this year’s online sales event.

Prospective car buyers were able to shop, compare and choose from vehicles, schedule at-home test drives, configure financing, and get home delivery. The company said that helped those who were homebound during the shelter-at-home mandate.

Jim Ellis Automotive Group reported that the pandemic has resulted in severe food shortages for many Georgia communities. The company added that food security will continue to be a major challenge with more than 30 million Americans unemployed.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Atlanta Community Food Bank has seen a 30% to 40% increase in demand for food assistance. Through nearly 700 nonprofit partners, the food bank helps bring healthy food to more than 755,000 people each year.

“The proceeds of the Jim Ellis At-Home Memorial Day Sales Event will greatly help to support Atlanta Community Food Bank's emergency food distributions and the one in seven Georgians who are food insecure,” the automotive group stated.