Dr. Roshan T. Ramlal, PhD MPH, FACS Agent, UGA Extension Forsyth County and Gwen Hawn, FACS Agent, UGA Extension Hall County
Food pantries across the Georgia Mountain Food Bank (GMFB) region (which includes: Forsyth, Hall, Union, Lumpkin, and Dawon counties) are in crisis. Rebecca Thurman, Executive Director of GMFB, reports that food insecurity has risen by 30% over this past year. She shares that one out of eight Georgians and one out of five children are food insecure. With a population in Georgia of just over 11 million that means nearly 1.4 million Georgians are struggling to meet their basic need for food. Food insecurity affects health profoundly. Families often buy cheaper, less healthy food, leading to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Children who don’t get enough food miss more school and struggle to learn.
Living in the wealthiest county in Georgia, it is hard to believe we are in this situation. Earlier this year, when I visited Forsyth County food pantries, there was plenty of food available. Dairy products were lacking. When I returned to the same pantries in August, shelves were empty. Last week, end of October, the shelves remained bare and clients waited for many hours.
Rebecca Thurman explains that recent disruptions and delays in SNAP benefits have placed an even greater strain on the food bank’s already depleted inventory creating an urgent need for community support. Changes to SNAP benefits mean thousands of people-including children, seniors, and disabled individuals- cannot rely on government funds to help purchase their groceries. Food banks are bracing for a surge in emergency need. Churches and local food pantries cannot do it alone. The good news is food is available. The challenge in this busy holiday season is getting the food to households in our communities that need it most.
How You Can Help Right Now
Donate Food and Baby Items: Low stock items in demand at pantries:
- Canned fruit (no sugar added)
- Peanut butter
- Jelly (low sugar)
- Canned meat (chicken, tuna, salmon)
- Whole grain pasta
- Canned vegetables (low sodium)
- Brown rice
- Black beans
- Boxed cereal (low sugar)
- Boxed crackers
Other suggestions:
- When you see buy-one-get-one-free deals, donate the free item.
- Cans with “pop tops” help students prepare food while parents are working.
- Most pantries will also take diapers and formula.
Give Money:
- Food Banks have a greater purchasing power. Food banks can buy food from wholesalers at a fraction of the cost at big box stores. For every dollar donated, a food bank can purchase enough food to provide five complete meals where for a consumer at best that would purchase one bag of chips.
- In addition, right now, every dollar you donate to Georgia Mountain Food Bank gets matched, thanks to Cook Law Group—doubling your gift up to $25,000. Food banks purchase food from wholesalers at a fraction of retail cost, providing up to five meals per dollar donated. Visit GMFB to donate online. To find food banks in your area, go to https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank. Corporate sponsors will be matching throughout the year. Look for those opportunities to maximize your contribution.
Volunteer:
- Help families shop for food
- Sort donations
- Stock shelves
- Bilingual translation
Creative Ways to Volunteer:
- Make it a family outing with your teens and model what it means to give back. Find a pantry near you at GMFB’s Partner Directory.
- Corporate team building or volunteering can be done at the food bank or pantries.
- Participate in food bank and pantries fundraising campaigns such GMFB’s Empty Bowl and Painting Bowl Parties.
Spread the Word: Share Georgia Mountain Food Bank’s posts on your social media channels and your social networks. Let friends know where pantries are located and how to contact them. Dates and times they are opened vary:
Creekside United Methodist Church, 673 Peachtree Parkway, Cumming, GA 30341, 770-888-8449, Deliver by appointment.
Cumming Baptist Church, 115 Church Street, Cumming, GA 30040, 770-887-1215, day/time: 8am-10am
Cumming First United Methodist Church, 770 Canton Hwy, Cumming, GA 30040, 770-887-2900, day/time: Wed 9am-11am, delivery program available
Hightower Baptist Association, Inc. – Bilingual, 8630 Wallace Tatum Road, Cumming, GA 30028, 770-205-2464, Day/Time: Second Saturday 8am-12pm
Meals by Grace – Bilingual, 3540 Keith Bridge Road, Cumming, GA 30028, 404-426-4055
The Place – Bilingual, 2550 The Place Circle, 2550 The Place Circle, 770-887-1098, Day/Time: T,W,Th, 9am-1:30pm
Start a Food or Money Drive: Collect food or funds at your workplace, church, or neighborhood event. Even loose change can add up. Another easy way to help is to shop from the GMFB Amazon Wishlist to send food directly to the food bank. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/PP0T5STJ373S?ref_=wl_share
Local Food Pantries Are Struggling
Three factors are driving the current crisis: escalating food costs make it harder for food banks to buy food while grocery stores donate less due to improved inventory management; rising costs of living mean families have less money for food; and disruptions in SNAP benefits leave vulnerable people without critical support, dramatically increasing demand for emergency food resources.
I’ve visited three food pantries over the past six months as UGA Extension’s Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Agent of Forsyth County to educate clients about nutrition and food safety: The Place in Forsyth County, Cumming United Methodist Church, and Meals by Grace. All are client-choice pantries, allowing families to choose their own food instead of receiving pre-packed boxes. They’re run by dedicated volunteers working hard to help neighbors.
Empty coolers and bare shelves showed how the food banks and pantries are struggling to meet the needs. “No one in America should ever go hungry. Whatever is happening politically or economically, our communities have the power to step up and care for one another. If we each take responsibility- by volunteering, giving and serving- we can meet the need together,” says Chris Harvey, Volunteer Director of Meals by Grace.
In the afternoon, I assisted volunteers as they ushered clients through. A retired veteran came in shopping for his son and baby grandchild. “Do y’all have any diapers?” he asked quietly. The food pantry didn’t have any that day. “That’s OK. God will provide,” he said. He walked past empty coolers and picked up a pizza crust and tomato sauce. “I’ll make marinara,” he said positively, though there was no cheese or pizza sauce available.
Our Community Can Make a Difference
“Far too many families in our community face difficult choices between food, housing and health care,” says Rebecca Thurman, Executive Director of Georgia Mountain Food Bank. She said trying to run a food bank right now is like trying to “balance on a seesaw during an earthquake.” Food banks can’t solve this problem alone. They need money, volunteers, donated food, and people sharing the message. Every donation helps. Every volunteer hour matters.