Latest news with #AtlantaCommunityFoodBank
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
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 vests packed thousands of boxes of chips, rice and pasta. Kyle Waide, CEO of the organization, said getting the millions of pounds of food out to the Georgians who need it most daily takes a 'community engagement effort' from volunteers, food bank staff, and nonprofit partners. 'We're serving hundreds of thousands of families throughout the year and connecting them with the food and resources they need, not only just to survive day to day, but to really have more bandwidth and breathing room to build stability in their lives,' Waide told Capital B Atlanta. 'I think that helps them have a better chance at pursuing opportunities and getting connected with pathways to really pursue their aspirations.' But Waide said he's fearful of what the proposed cuts being decided in Congress to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could mean for Georgians and for the food bank, which serves 29 counties across the northern part of the state. Last month, House Republicans successfully pushed for major budget cuts to SNAP in the coming years as they passed a bill that approved reducing the program's budget by $300 billion over the next 10 years. Read More: Georgia Skips Feeding Kids This Summer as GOP Pushes SNAP Cuts On top of the proposed cuts, Georgia chose to not partake in a summer program that would have helped feed 1.2 million children, according to the Food Research and Action Center. Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks, provides qualifying families with $120 for each eligible child in their household for the summer months. The program was designed to help feed children who receive free and reduced-price lunches at school. Congress approved the program in 2022 for use when public schools are closed or have limited hours Georgia is one of 11 states that will not take part in the program for summer 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website. Waide said that when it comes to food, the community is already in 'a state of crisis,' as demand for food has increased over the past few years due to inflation. He estimates the food bank is serving 60% more people than they were three years ago, and worries things will only get worse with cuts to SNAP. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Georgia could owe around $812 million for its share of SNAP in 2028 — more than double the $300 million in food that the food bank provides to the community annually, according to Waide. As for Black Georgians, Waide said they will face a disproportionate impact from the cuts as they are overrepresented on the SNAP rolls. In 2020, Black people made up 33% of the state's population and more than half of SNAP participants, according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. Additionally, Black residents are twice as likely to face food insecurity compared to white residents. 'We're going to see increasing disparities in life outcomes by race, because we're already starting from a place where disparities exist, and these cuts are going to help exacerbate those disparities,' said Waide. Read More: Georgia Rejects Summer EBT, Leaving 1.2M Kids Without Food Aid The cuts to SNAP are part of the Trump administration's efforts to reduce federal spending to offset the cost of extending the president's 2017 tax cuts for high-income earners. The bill with the proposed cuts is currently being reviewed in the Senate. Were the legislation to become law, these changes wouldn't come into effect until fiscal year 2028. Waide says because the state would have to shoulder more of the costs of SNAP due to the reduction from money on the federal side, state leaders could ultimately choose to reduce the amount of benefits SNAP recipients receive or restrict eligibility for the program, both resulting in less people having food. 'What we need from people is to support the food bank, get involved in our partner network and be an advocate for the community and the country you want,' said Waide. For those in search of food assistance this summer, here are ways to find free meals in the metro Atlanta area: Plug your address into a food pantry finder on the Atlanta Community Food Bank's website. Some pantries may require proof of local residency and offer curbside delivery, according to the website. You can also Text 'FINDFOOD' or 'COMIDA' to (888) 976-2232 to access the information via text message. During the summer months when schools are closed, the state has various summer meal programs in operation. Free meals are available at all the food sites for children 18 and younger, with some also serving youth with special needs up to age 21. Some of the sites operate through school-based summer programs, but many others are based within communities at parks, libraries or nonprofit organizations. Depending on the site, breakfast, lunch or both are served. To locate the nearest site, go to the USDA's website, text 'FOODGA' to 877-877, or call (866) 3-HUNGRY for help in English or Spanish. MUST Ministries, a faith based organization that provides resources to communities in Georgia, holds an annual summer lunch program that provides free meals to children in need across metro Atlanta during the summer months. They have lunches available from June through July at the following locations: Waleska UMC 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 7340 Reinhardt College Parkway, Waleska Green Acres Baptist Church 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 591 Pat Mell Road SE, Smyrna Cumberland Community Church 3059 S. Cobb Drive SE, Smyrna 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bethany UMC 760 Hurt Road SW, Smyrna 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. McEachern UMC 4075 Macland Road, Powder Springs 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Mount Pisgah Baptist Church 851 South Gordon Road SW, Austell 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. St. Luke UMC 5115 Brookwood Drive, Mableton 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Open Hand Atlanta is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health outcomes through the delivery of medically tailored meals and nutrition education. The organization serves residents across Georgia, focusing on those with chronic or severe health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, and HIV/AIDS. Information on eligibility or to request services can be found on the organization's website. The Grocery Spot is a nonprofit grocery store and community hub located in Grove Park. The store offers a free shopping experience to residents who live in the neighborhood as well as for college students, seniors, veterans and more. Residents must sign up by appointment, and groceries are available on the following days and times: 2615 DLH Parkway NW 1 to 5 p.m. (By appointment only for those who live or work in the 30314, 30318 and 30331 ZIP codes.) 777 Charlotte Place NW 1 to 3 p.m. (Wednesday is reserved for only Grove Park residents.) 2615 DLH Parkway NW 1 to 5 p.m. (By appointment only for workers in education, college students, city of Atlanta employees, residents 65 or older, and veterans.) Identification is required. The post Where to Find Free Food and Groceries in Atlanta Amid Proposed SNAP and EBT Cuts appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's budget bill passes through House with cuts to food assistance
A new map from USA Today shows President Trump's budget bill could severely impact the poorest Americans by slashing food assistance. Atlanta Community Food Bank President and CEO Kyle Waide joins Chris Jansing to explain more about the impact of the cuts.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A opens 3 new restaurants, donates $75K to support food bank
Atlanta-based fast food chain Chick-fil-A is expanding across the metro area. Three new restaurants opened on Thursday morning. The new restaurants are located on Peachtree Road in Buckhead, Harbins Road in Dacula and Buford Drive in Lawrenceville. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Buckhead and Dacula restaurants will be open until 10 p.m. and the Lawrenceville location will be open until 9 p.m. 'When you're a teenager, it's hard to imagine how much your first job can shape your life. But for me, Chick-fil-A has been so much more than just a job—it's where I met my wife, built long-lasting friendships and felt empowered to open my own small business,' said Collin Kutz, the owner and operator of the Buckhead location. TRENDING STORIES: Marietta woman says city employee unlawfully went into her home while she was at funeral Kemp signs bill that could make Fulton County residents foot the bill for Trump's GA legal fees Georgia woman who vanished weeks ago while camping in California found safe To celebrate the openings, Chick-fil-A, Inc. has donated $25,000 to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and another $50,000 to Feeding America to support the Atlanta Community Food Bank's efforts. All three restaurants will also be donating surplus food to local non-profits. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chick-fil-A boosts hunger relief efforts with $75K donation for Atlanta Community Food Bank
The Brief Chick-fil-A donated $75,000 to Feeding America to support the Atlanta Community Food Bank, aiding in providing up to 300,000 meals to combat food insecurity in metro Atlanta and North Georgia. The donation is part of Chick-fil-A's ongoing commitment to hunger relief, with a total of $125,000 contributed to Feeding America this year, including a previous $50,000 donation linked to other restaurant openings. The three new Chick-fil-A locations in metro Atlanta will participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program, which has provided over 163,000 meals to local communities in 2025. LaGRANGE, Ga. - Chick-fil-A is celebrating the opening of three new restaurants in metro Atlanta with a $75,000 donation to Feeding America to support the Atlanta Community Food Bank, a local partner in the fight against hunger. The backstory The donation is expected to help provide up to 300,000 meals to people in need across metro Atlanta and North Georgia, where more than 715,000 individuals are projected to experience food insecurity, according to the food bank. The gift builds on Chick-fil-A's ongoing commitment to hunger relief in the region. Since the start of the year, the company has contributed a total of $125,000 to Feeding America on behalf of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, including a $50,000 donation earlier this year tied to the openings of two other local restaurants. What they're saying "Supporting local hunger relief is deeply important to us — because when our neighbors are fed, our whole community grows stronger," said Matt Rhodes, local Owner-Operator of the new Braves Avenue restaurant in Lawrenceville. "Kolby, Collin and I are proud that the opening of our restaurants is contributing to such an essential local effort. Giving back by fighting local hunger is one way we show how much we care for the place we call home." By the numbers The three new Chick-fil-A restaurants are located at: 3234 Peachtree Road NE, in Buckhead (Peachtree & Piedmont), operated by Collin Kutz; 881 Harbins Road, in Dacula (South Dacula), opening Thursday, May 15, operated by Kolby Shepherd; 2465 Buford Drive, in Lawrenceville (Braves Avenue), also opening Thursday, May 15, operated by Matt Rhodes. All three locations will participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program, which donates surplus food from restaurants to local organizations. So far in 2025, the program has helped Atlanta-area Chick-fil-A locations provide more than 163,000 meals to their communities. SEE ALSO: Chick-fil-A's lemon-squeezing robots cut over 10,000 labor hours per day: report Chick-fil-A changes Waffle Potato Fries recipe Chick-fil-A is bringing back fan-favorite sandwich for limited time Chick-fil-A launching family entertainment app with animated shows, podcasts, games Chick-fil-A food donation program surpasses 30M meals The Source The details in this article were provided by Chick-fil-A.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Atlanta's Hunger Walk/Run raises over $500K to fight food insecurity
ATLANTA - The annual Hunger Walk/Run has once again made a significant impact, raising more than $500,000 this year to combat food insecurity across the metro area. What we know Hosted by the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the event helps fund operations that serve approximately 240,000 people each month—more than 11% of Atlanta's population. What they're saying Officials say the demand for food assistance has surged by 60% in the past two years, highlighting the growing need for community support.
