Latest news with #Waide
Yahoo
19 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
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pierpont Community and Technical College president gone after a little over a year and a half
FAIRMONT — Milan Hayward is out as president of Pierpont Community and Technical College. The school confirmed Wednesday afternoon that Provost Michael Waide has been named interim president. The updated information is also present on the school's website. It's not clear under what circumstances Hayward left the school, or what impact the revolving door of presidents has on the school's faculty and staff. According to the Board of Governors' meeting minutes from a special session on Jan. 9, the board discussed approving a separation agreement as well as the need to name an interim president before Jan. 21. The meeting took place behind closed doors. Stephanie Moore, the school's new marketing director, said the board of governors has officially approved Waide as interim president, and that the school is grateful for Hayward's service to Pierpont. She added the school was in the midst of making preparations to formally announce Waide as the interim president. David Hinkle, chair of the school's board of governors, did not return a phone call requesting comment on the change by press time. The Pierpont Board of Governors unanimously agreed to hire Hayward in April 2023. '[Hayward's] experience in workforce development, grant development, community outreach and building partnerships with K-12 school systems fits perfectly with Pierpont's vision for its future,' Hinkle said in 2023. 'We look forward to working with Dr. Hayward as he begins his presidential leadership of Pierpont Community and Technical College.' After Hayward's predecessor, Johnny M. Moore, stepped down in 2021, the board spent two years looking for a replacement. During that period the school went through two interim presidents, Anthony Hancock and Kathleen Nelson. The school faced the threat of dissolution in 2022, when a bill in the West Virginia State Legislature sought to re-merge Fairmont State University and Pierpont. The dissolution episode led to poor relations between both schools which Hayward made a point to fix during his presidency. His mission gained new currency after Fairmont State's new president, Mike Davis, also signaled his desire to bring both institutions together in cooperation rather than rivalry. Hayward and Davis hosted a luncheon in August 2023 at the Marion County Chamber of Commerce where both men made it clear rivalry was not the way forward, and that a better Fairmont 'first requires breaking bread.' At the event, Hayward said he intended to meet with Davis at least once a quarter. Hayward also had the task of carving out an individual identity for Pierpont. The college held regular 'Experience Pierpont' days to introduce the community to the school and get the word out about the opportunities it offered. 'The community college is all about meeting folks where they are,' Hayward said. 'And helping them realize their interests, strengths and develop those talents and come away with skill sets that they can put to work right away and make a difference in their family and their community.' Waide began his administrative career at Pierpont in 2016, when according to his LinkedIn account, the school hired him as a chief judicial officer. Waide's job was to investigate complaints of violations of the student code of conduct and impose sanctions. From there, Waide became academic dean of the School of Health Sciences, as well as interim provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. Waide is also a tenured professor in the Medical Laboratory Technology program and is a licensed medical laboratory scientist. In 2022, Waide spoke in support of a plan to allow Pierpont students who complete a health science degree to qualify for credit hours at Fairmont State University. According to his bio on the school's website, Waide has two masters degrees as well as a doctorate in education. Waide's research focused on the relationship between the resilience and persistence of nontraditional-aged community college students and academic success.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia Opts Out of Federal Summer Program That Would Feed Children in Need
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 program in 2022 to help feed children who receive free and reduced-price lunches at school during summer break, when public schools are closed or have limited hours. Feb. 15 was the final deadline for states to notify the U.S. Department of Agriculture if they planned to participate this summer. Georgia is one of the 11 states that will not take part in the program, according to USDA's website. This marks the second consecutive year Georgia will not participate in Summer EBT, which could particularly impact Black Georgians amid food banks experiencing a rise in demand for assistance. 'Right now, the demand we're facing is about 60% higher than it was three years ago,' said Kyle Waide, CEO of Atlanta Community Food Bank. 'We're serving around 250,000 households a month, which is about 100,000 more than we were serving in 2022.' Waide said Black Georgia residents are among the demographics hit hardest, saying they're two to three times more likely to experience food insecurity than white residents. Gov. Brian Kemp's office shared concerns with Capital B Atlanta last year about the program's economics and nutritional value. Garrison Douglas, Kemp's press secretary, said last week that there were no updates on the state's stance on the program, calling Summer EBT a 'pandemic-era, Biden administration program that lacks nutritional standards and fiscal accountability.' An estimated 1.2 million children living in Georgia would be eligible for Summer EBT, according to the Food Research and Action Center. Waide said financial factors like inflation have led to more people seeking food assistance than ever before. The cost of groceries in the Atlanta area has climbed by roughly 25% since February 2020, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the state points to its two feeding initiatives — Seamless Summer and Happy Helpings — as sufficient for providing meals to children during the summer, these programs have gaps. Fifty-six counties — a majority of which are rural — didn't have a Happy Helpings feeding site in 2024. 'Recruiting qualified nonprofit organizations that are willing to operate and provide meals is the largest obstacle,' said Cindy Kicklighter, an official with the Department of Early Care and Learning. 'Many organizations do not meet the financial viability or administrative capabilities to operate the program.' But nonprofit organizations that Georgia relies on to help feed those in need of food assistance are straining to meet the demand. 'We're now distributing more than 500,000 pounds of food a day,' said Waide. 'Just imagine 20 tractor trailer loads of food going out from our facility every single day. That's the sort of volume that we're talking about. … We don't think this level of demand is going to change anytime soon.' In an email to Capital B Atlanta, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, who represents Georgia's 6th Congressional District, said that the state's decision to opt out of the program and leave federal dollars on the table is 'indefensible.' 'Governor Kemp has missed deadline after deadline to provide our kids with reliable access to summer meals through the federal Summer EBT program,' said McBath. McBath — along with several other Democratic lawmakers, including U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock — signed and sent a letter to Kemp earlier this month, pushing him to make Georgia one of the 39 states to participate in Summer EBT for 2025. The lawmakers previously sent a letter about the program to the governor last year. 'I have now led three separate letters to the governor about this and have not received a substantive response to our concerns,' said McBath. 'I will not be silent when the health of our children is at stake, and my Democratic colleagues and I in the congressional delegation stand ready to work with the governor's office to make sure Georgia's kids are not continuing to be left out of this program.' The post Georgia Opts Out of Federal Summer Program That Would Feed Children in Need appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
