For many families in Atlanta, Thanksgiving can be a stressful time. According to local food bank organizations, thousands of households across the city face food insecurity, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal will come from. And as government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program face delays and cuts, gaps in access […]
food insecurity
Posted inSocial Welfare
Black Farmers, Neighbors Gather in SW Atlanta to Address Food Insecurity
The day began with Shawn DeAngelo Walton asking God for a favor. And as the strains of gospel music greeted people as they gathered in an historic Southwest Atlanta neighborhood Saturday to strategize on ways to address food insecurity as the government shutdown delays Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits for local families, the entrepreneur’s prayer […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘We Don’t Want Anyone to Lose Benefits’: Advocates Urge Black Georgians to Prepare for SNAP Changes
Georgia residents who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could begin seeing significant changes as soon as this fall, and local advocates warn SNAP recipients should prepare for these updates as soon as possible. Among the most significant changes are expanded work requirements for adults receiving benefits, and restrictions on immigrant eligibility. […]
Posted inFood Access, Politics & Policy
Where to Find Free Food and Groceries in Atlanta Amid Proposed SNAP and EBT Cuts
Inside the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s facility in East Point Friday morning, dozens of volunteers hustled inside to organize piles of water bottles, juice cartons, peanut butter, and cans of soup. On the other side of the building, the beeps from the forklifts echoed throughout the corridors as food bank staff in blue and gray […]
Posted inEducation, Food Access, Health, Politics & Policy, Social Welfare, State Politics
Georgia Skips Feeding Kids This Summer as GOP Pushes SNAP Cuts
As Atlanta Public Schools are set to close for summer break next week, one of the main questions on Kimberly Dukes’ mind is how she will feed her children. The mother of 10, and executive director of the education advocacy group Atlanta Thrive, is well aware of the hardships many APS families face when schools […]
Posted inEducation, Politics & Policy, State Politics
Georgia Rejects Summer EBT, Leaving 1.2M Kids Without Food Aid
Georgia will not participate in a summer program that would help feed children in need as the state has failed to opt in prior to this year’s final deadline. Summer EBT, also known as Sun Bucks, provides qualifying families with $120 for each eligible child in their household for the summer months. Congress approved the […]
Posted inFood Access
More Atlantans Are Going Hungry, and It Could Get Worse Next Year.
Vanessa Bowman reached her financial breaking point last year when her car broke down and she had to cut back on her family’s food budget to afford another one. The 62-year-old disabled grandmother and her sister, Elsie, were two of more than 800 people from across the region who visited a weekly food giveaway recently, […]
Posted inFood Access, Money, Wealth Gap
This Free Grocery Store Is Trying to Address Atlanta’s Food Access Problems
This story was originally published on March 2, 2023, and has been updated. Bankhead resident Jeff Jackson says accessing fresh groceries in his neighborhood has become more difficult over the years. Jackson recalls multiple grocery stores closing in the past decade. It’s why the Grocery Spot, the free grocery store where he volunteers and gets […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, State Politics
Georgia Is Turning Away Federal Funds That Would Feed Kids Next Summer
For the second year, it looks likely that Georgia won’t participate in a federal program that helps feed hungry families during the summertime. Summer EBT, also called Sun Bucks, provides qualifying families with $120 for each eligible child in their household. Congress approved the program in 2022 to help feed children who receive free and […]
Posted inEveryday Heroes
Nourishing Hope: Erica ‘Umi’ Clahar’s Umi Feeds Transforms Lives in Atlanta
We’ve partnered with the AJC to help recognize amazing Georgians who have done their small part to make a big difference. We’ve profiled three of the 52 people who remind each of us that acts of kindness are never random. You can meet the rest of this year’s ‘Everyday Heroes’: ajc.com/heroes In the heart of Atlanta, […]