The food emergency in the Athens area caused by the federal government’s temporarily pause of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits is not over, according to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. Even though the federal government is running again and SNAP benefits are reaching people in Athens, the Food Bank reports that the need is still at a “desperate level.”
The Food Bank issued a press release last week about the current situation, which you can read below. – APN
“After more than a month, legislation was finally passed [on Wednesday, November 12] to restore funding for the federal government and end the shutdown, including USDA and federal food and nutrition programs like SNAP, WIC and TEFAP. In Georgia, we expect full SNAP benefits to be issued to recipients as early as Monday, November 17.
However, we are still witnessing a desperate level of need, with our Members sharing 35-50% increases in the numbers of households served month-over-month – which was already at a record high. We are seeing new faces and learning new names, and it is our honor to stand in the gap with our neighbors and with you.
In direct response to our neighbors’ ongoing food crisis, our plan is still in motion. The Food Bank remains in recovery mode, because our neighbors have not yet recovered from this setback.
Food is essential, and what is essential cannot be negotiable. We won’t slow down, because we can’t slow down. We will continue our increased food purchasing into December, providing the volume needed to serve more households through our Member and mobile distribution network.
The Food Bank has revised our estimated food budget through calendar year-end from $500,000 to $1 million, in direct response to serving more households and individuals. It is not too late to join us as we lock arms with our neighbors. You are invited to become a “Fork Lifter” monthly contributor or support our work with a year-end gift. Every $100 donated provides 250 meals and translates directly to our ability to connect neighbors with nourishing food.
We have been in awe of the outpouring of support from across our region, bringing us more
than halfway to our fundraising goal.
Let’s stay together on this journey knowing that, as we gather around holiday tables, our
neighbors are doing the same.
Every Neighbor. With Enough Food. Every Day.”
