{"id":2184,"date":"2025-11-07T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/?p=2184"},"modified":"2025-12-10T11:10:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T16:10:03","slug":"all-hands-on-deck-food-banks-and-food-pantries-need-your-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/all-hands-on-deck-food-banks-and-food-pantries-need-your-help\/","title":{"rendered":"All Hands-on Deck: Food Banks and Food Pantries Need Your Help"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Two ladies and gentleman packing boxes \u2013 Gwen Hawn, FACS Agent, Hall County, Roshan Ramlal, FACS Agent, Forsyth County, and Phil Dennis, Development Director, Georgia Mountain Food Bank<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Roshan T. Ramlal, PhD MPH, FACS Agent, UGA Extension Forsyth County and Gwen Hawn, FACS Agent, UGA Extension Hall County<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebecca Thurman explains that recent disruptions and delays in SNAP benefits have placed an even greater strain on the food bank\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cans and packages of food stacked on shelves and cooler- Client-choice Pantry Model displays food items like in a grocery store<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How You Can Help Right Now<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donate Food and Baby Items:<\/strong> Low stock items in demand at pantries:<\/p>\n\n\n\n