Georgia Legal Food Frenzy logo. (Courtesy photo)

Momentum from Monday's blockbuster start to the Georgia Legal Food Frenzy continued Tuesday.

After scoring $119,000 by mid-afternoon Monday, as of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, the statewide total stood at $175,529 for Georgia's food banks, which are dealing with unprecedented demand in the wake of job losses caused by coronavirus social distancing efforts. Last year's event raised $419,000 when, even before the pandemic, about 16% of Georgians didn't know how they'd obtain their next meal.

Food banks have reported that, in recent weeks, they have had to increase food distribution by up to 40%. In addition to high demand, food banks have lost some funding sources. The Atlanta Community Food Bank, for example, had to cancel its annual Hunger Walk/Run, which in 2018 raised more than $1 million.

Data from the Food Frenzy's dashboard showed that 1,416 individual donors had given to the cause, averaging about $124 per donation. Attorney General Chris Carr, one of the event sponsors, has urged lawyers to donate the cost of one billable hour.

As it has in previous years, Georgia Tech Office of the General Counsel continued to hold a sizable lead in the overall cash race with $18,911.50. But firms have often been able to close the gap and overtake the Yellow Jackets by the end of the event, which this year closes on Friday, May 1.

The teams immediately behind Tech are: Squire Patton Boggs, with $6,246.25; the Office of the Attorney General, $5,476; King & Spalding, $5,473, Troutman Sanders, $5,292.75; and Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs, $5,152.50.

Habachy Law, which is a five-time winner of the per capita donation award, had raised $4,625, followed by Alston & Bird, $4,512.25; BakerHostetler, $4,426.25; and The Cochran Firm; $4,399.25.

"The totals today demonstrate that the competition is off to a strong start, but we need to continue to work hard to increase those numbers," Carr said Tuesday. "And if we do, more shelves will be stocked at our food banks, more deliveries will be made and more Georgians in need will be served."