Scroll down for our running list of local restaurants, organizations, and nonprofits offering food assistance and accepting donations and volunteers.
On Nov. 1, nearly 1.4 million Georgia residents (12.6 percent of the population), including more than 908,000 children, were on track to lose SNAP and EBT benefits, after the Trump administration said it could no longer fund the federal program during the government shutdown. This, despite a contingency fund of close to $6 billion.
Democrats from 25 states, including some officials from Georgia, sued the Trump administration in hopes of activating the SNAP contingency funds. But two federal judges ruled on Oct. 31 that the Trump administration must continue to fund SNAP, which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It provides monetary assistance to no- and low-income people to help purchase food and other necessities.
The rulings will likely face appeals, and it’s unclear whether the administration will decide to partially or fully fund SNAP during the government shutdown.
While positive news for millions of Americans who faced the total loss of federal food aid, it still could take up to two weeks to reload debit cards used to purchase groceries.
Efforts by metro Atlanta nonprofits and food justice organizations were well underway to ensure SNAP beneficiaries continued to have access to food throughout the government shutdown.
“Hunger should not be political,” Will Sellers, Executive Director of food insecurity nonprofit Wholesome Wave Georgia, told Rough Draft on Oct. 29. “We urge our federal representatives to come together and resolve the political impasse that will cause 1.4 million Georgians – including over 900,000 Georgia children – to go hungry.”
Earlier this month, the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) issued a statement saying it — or any food bank — cannot act as a long-term replacement for SNAP.
ACFB announced on Oct. 30 that it would activate $5 million in reserve funds to help purchase more than six million pounds of food as part of a SNAP crisis response plan. During a press conference later that same day, Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens said the city had partnered with several local organizations, including the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Goodr Community Market, and Hosea Helps, to provide residents in need with rapid access to food.
Scroll down for our running list of local restaurants, organizations, and nonprofits offering food assistance and accepting donations and volunteers.
Why SNAP matters
“Twelve percent of SNAP participants work in food service–these are our cooks, servers, and dishwashers,” Giving Kitchen founder Jen Hidinger-Kendrick said. “Any distruption [to SNAP] will hit them hard.”
The Atlanta-based hospitality industry nonprofit provides emergency assistance to restaurant workers in crisis. Hidinger-Kendrick said that seven in 10 Giving Kitchen aid recipients say that the assistance provided by the organization kept them from skipping meals.
“The need is real, and the community support is critical right now to keep food service workers fed and housed,” she added.
Because SNAP works with local farmers, cutting or delaying the program also puts entrepreneurs and local businesses at risk. Julia Asherman of Rag and Frass Farm in Jeffersonville comes to Atlanta once a week to participate in Grant Park’s Sunday farmers market. Asherman and her son, a toddler, also rely on monthly SNAP benefits.
She has already experienced phone calls from concerned customers.
“[They] are confused about what this means, making it hard for them to plan or prepare. I am worried about their families having access to food as winter rolls in,” she said.
Farms across Georgia are currently experiencing a “leaner” time of year, with less available fresh produce and lower sales. Every dollar counts during the colder seasons, as does every missed dollar.
“For us this will be a double whammy and leave me feeling very angry with the government for being so careless with how this impacts people like me,” Asherman said. Independent farmers like Asherman rely on business from SNAP recipients.
“We will directly lose sales revenue,” she said. “We will lose the benefit of the marketing and advertising we have already paid for at our [farmers] markets to tell customers about our SNAP match, and we will lose the momentum, culture, and relationships at market that we have spent years cultivating.”
“Shopping at a [farmers] market, especially for low-income families, is a culture shift and requires time, consistency, and trust,” Asherman added.
Days before the Oct. 31 ruling by the judges, and ahead of the Nov. 1 SNAP expiration, a petition asking Georgia governor Brian Kemp to declare a state of emergency fell flat. The AJC reported that the Republican governor rejected the idea of using state funds exceeding $14.6 billion to cover SNAP benefits through November.
Kemp blamed congressional Democrats for the impasse, and expressed concerns that bailing out SNAP could lead to other federal agencies strained by the government shutdown asking for similar treatment. He urged Congress to reopen the government.
Local nonprofits/food justice organizations stepping up
Erin Stieglitz, founder of Atlanta nonprofit Bagel Rescue, which redirects day-old bagels and bread from 70 metro Atlanta restaurants to food assistance programs, said the need for food donations is about to get much worse.
“People were already struggling, and food pantries and food programs were already having a hard time keeping their shelves stocked,” she said. “As more and more people are going to need food resources, it’s going to be even harder. That’s why a free food resource becomes even more valuable.”
Stieglitz hopes that more area restaurants will donate excess food instead of throwing it away. Organizations like Second Helpings Atlanta will even send volunteers to pick up extra food from restaurants and grocery stores. There’s also an urgent need right now for volunteers.
“I think a lot of restaurants are worried about the liability issue, but there are local and federal laws that protect restaurants that donate food in good faith,” Stieglitz said. As long as food is not expired, contaminated, or has already been served, a restaurant or store isn’t responsible for any food borne illness that may occur.
“The food exists. It’s just a matter of connecting it with people who need it, when and where they need it,” she said.
According to Stieglitz, food pantries will be hit the hardest and will quickly become the most desperate for food donations. Food is a renewable need, meaning donations must keep pace with that need.
“I’m not talking about your expired food you don’t want to eat,” she said. “The items that help food pantries most are non-perishable, yet nutritious items (think nut butters, beans, or canned fish) that can go straight to the hungry.”
The following metro Atlanta organizations and nonprofits offer free food or food assistance. This list also includes volunteer and donation opportunities.
To add organizations and restaurants to this list, send details to beth@roughdraftatlanta.com.
Metro Wide
Atlanta Community Food Bank
The Atlanta Community Food Bank continues to accept both monetary and food and pantry donations, along with volunteers. Click here for donation options and here for help.
Atlanta Justice Alliance
The mutual aid organization includes a list of local charities, churches, and food pantries for people seeking help and/or to volunteer and donate money and items.
Bagel Rescue
Bagel Rescue redirects day-old bagels and bread from 70 metro Atlanta restaurants and grocery stores to distribute to food assistance programs. Donate here, or apply to volunteer here.
DoorDash
Delivery service DoorDash is offering $0 delivery and service fees for SNAP grocery orders in November. Additionally, DoorDash will deliver one million meals through Project Dash partners, and donate $1.5 million to support food access nationwide.
Concrete Jungle
Each week, Concrete Jungle’s Produce Buyers Club purchases imperfect produce from Georgia farmers, which cannot be sold at traditional retailers, and distributes it to hunger relief agencies. The organization also works with Doghead Farm, an urban farm in Southwest Atlanta, to grow and donate produce. Concrete Jungle is looking for farm volunteers for three Saturdays in November.
Food Commune
Local organization Food Commune hosts two pop-up distribution events weekly. Follow them on Facebook for additional details on upcoming drops.
Fresh Harvest
Each week, the local produce delivery service offers subsidized Share the Harvest markets in Clarkston and delivers free produces boxes to people in need around Metro Atlanta. Fresh Harvest plans to grow these markets to six a month by the end of November, and will partner with Urban Recipe to distribute groceries during its Friday markets in Clarkston. People can donate to Share the Harvest markets here.
Giving Kitchen
The hospitality industry nonprofit always accepts monetary donations to help provide emergency assistance to restaurant workers in crisis. And here’s how restaurant workers can ask for crisis assistance.
Goodr, Inc.
In addition to its food rescue program, sustainable food waste management company Goodr regularly hosts pop-up and mobile grocery markets within food-insecure communities. Goodr also sets up and supports in-school food pantries.
Hosea Helps
Hosea Helps provides emergency assistance throughout metro Atlanta, including for food and housing. The organization also accepts donations and volunteers.
New Disabled South
New Disabled South is offering one-time payments of $100 to individuals and $250 to households to help people impacted by SNAP cuts. Funding is first-come, first-served. Apply here.
Refuge Coffee Co.
Refuge Coffee Co.’s Clarkston location will collect meals and shelf-stable goods during their Friendsgiving event on Nov. 24.
Second Helpings Atlanta
Second Helpings Atlanta is a food rescue nonprofit that picks up surplus food from metro Atlanta restaurants and grocery stores to distribute to people in need. Here’s how to donate food and to volunteer.
Souper Jenny
Starting Nov. 1, Souper Jenny will feature a community meal board during the last hour of business at each location where Atlantans in need can order a family meal for up to four people, no questions asked. Diners can also pay for meals to be donated to the community meal board. Souper Jenny includes locations in Roswell, Blandtown, Buckhead, Chamblee, and Decatur. Learn more about the community meal board here. Backed by Souper Jenny, The Zadie Project also donates 1,000 quarts of soup every Tuesday to people in need of food.
Wholesome Wave Georgia
Participating farmers markets will continue to accept green tokens indefinitely, which can double the value of SNAP and EBT purchases, regardless of when or where tokens were purchased. Wholesome Wave is currently accepting cash donations to help fund the organization’s efforts. Out of the 13 Wholesome Wave Georgia partners in metro Atlanta, 12 accept green tokens.
In Atlanta
Banshee/Bonafide Deluxe
The Michelin-recommended East Atlanta Village restaurant and its sister restaurant, Bonafide Deluxe in Edgewood, will collect canned goods, nonperishable food, and toiletries throughout November. Drop off donations at the host stand Tuesday-Thursday, starting at 5 p.m. All donations will benefit Intown Food Pantry, part of Intown Cares, and Emmaus House.
Communidad/Poco Loco
Starting Nov. 1, Chef Nick Melvin’s Old Fourth Ward and Kirkwood restaurants will donate sales proceeds to local nonprofits. At Poco Loco, 5 percent of sales through November will be donated to DEAM Decatur. Over at Communidad, purchasing a quart of chicken tortilla soup will see 100 percent of proceeds donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank in November.
Community Farmers Markets
Starting Nov. 8, people can purchase produce and other goods from farmers markets in Oakhurst and Grant Park to be donated to local residents in need. CFM is asking for individual donations to help fund the food drive, which will continue for the foreseeable future, beginning Nov. 10, at all of the organization’s farmers markets.
Crescent City Kitchen
Crescent City Kitchen in Midtown teamed up with Sysco Atlanta to provide free meals to Atlantans in need. Every Monday in November, from 4-8 p.m., Crescent City Kitchen will feature dine-in service for SNAP beneficiaries, offering one free meal and a beverage per person. Present SNAP card at the host stand.
The Daily (Berkeley Park, Buckhead, Inman Park)
All locations of The Daily will donate a percentage of sales through the end of November to benefit Atlanta Community Food Bank. People can also drop off nonperishable food donations at each location of The Daily for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
The Grocery Spot
This free grocery store, located on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, offers shopping for the general public by appointment, along with special senior citizen, veteran, and city worker hours. People must provide ID and live or work within the 30314, 30318, and 30331 zip codes. Friday shopping does not include zip code restrictions. Read more here. The Grocery Spot also accepts food donations and volunteers.
Meals on Wheels Atlanta
Meals on Wheels Atlanta, which provides Atlanta seniors with two medically tailored meals daily, will provide a grocery bag for affected citizens. MOWA is also actively seeking donations and volunteers.
Intown Cares
Intown Cares at 1026 Ponce de Leon Ave. offers meals and housing aid to those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity.
Java Lords
All month long, Euclid Ave. cafe Java Lords will offer a 5 percent discount to customers who bring in non-perishable food items for their November food drive.
Peachtree Road Farmers Market
Along with Big Green Egg and Ami Dand’s Sweet Basil Cakes, the Peachtree Road Farmers Market is hosting a live auction through Sunday, November 9 at 9:00 pm. Auction prizes include 4 passes to Zoo Atlanta, a 6-month family membership to the High Museum, and gift cards for local restaurants. To donate your own auction item, click here. The group is also holding two raffles for a Big Green Egg MiniMax package and a parking spot at the farmers market. Purchase raffle tickets on Peachtree Road Farmers Market’s website (click the button that says “Parking & BGE Raffle Tickets” in the top-right corner.
Peachtree Wellness
Peachtree Wellness is holding a food and hygiene drive at 585 Memorial Dr. in Grant Park. The organization specifically needs after-school snacks such as applesauce and beef jerky, canned and dried beans, canned fruits and vegetables, shelf-stable instant meals, and cereal. The donation box also accepts personal care items, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, soap and shampoo, and tampons and pads.
Smith’s Olde Bar
Smith’s Olde Bar will host a community food drive featuring live music from DJ Babey Drew and friends and food for purchase on Wednesday, November 12 from 7:00 pm to closing. Patrons can either bring a pre-packaged, non-perishable food item or purchase a ticket for entry. One hundred percent of food donations and ticket proceeds, as well as 15 percent of Smith’s Olde Bar’s evening sales, will be donated to Meals on Wheels Atlanta.
Weelaunee Distro
In conjunction with Weelaunee Distro, the Gresham Park Recreation Center at 3113 Gresham Road offers resources for procuring groceries from Food 4 Life ATL, the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, and Mask Bloc Atlanta on Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m.
In Brookhaven
Latin American Association
“Taking food off the table during one of the most challenging economic times is inhumane. This is not a political issue; it’s a humanitarian one,” said Latin American Association (LAA) CEO Santiago Marquez.
On Nov. 19, in partnership with Cruz & Associates, the LAA will deliver more than 400 fresh, family-sized meals to residents at Las Colinas Apartments on Buford Highway in Brookhaven. The LAA is also scheduling additional food distribution dates to help families whose SNAP benefits lapse on Nov. 1.
In Sandy Springs/Dunwoody/Doraville
Community Assistance Center
CEO Francis K. Horton III said that Sandy Springs’ Community Assistance Center (CAC) is getting ready for an influx of families seeking help due to suspension of SNAP benefits.
“We are increasing our food stock in our two mini-market food pantries in anticipation of an increased demand by as much as 30 percent,” Horton said. “We are working with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and other partners to secure additional food supplies and resources to help those affected by loss of their SNAP benefits.”
Any resident of Sandy Springs, Dunwoody or the area of Doraville served by the Dunwoody school system, including those affected by the government shutdown, furloughed workers, and those temporarily losing SNAP benefits, can request help.
CAC assists with the basic needs of food and clothing, and financial assistance for rent or utilities. People in need or community members who wish to make donations can call CAC at 770-552-4889, email CAC at info@ourcac.org or visit CAC online.
The CAC mini-market food pantries:
- North Sandy Springs: 8607 Roswell Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30350
- South Sandy Springs: 120 Northwood Dr, Sandy Springs, GA 30342
People can help by donating food directly to any of the CAC mini-market food pantries. Check the CAC website for donation items needed, which includes purchasing food online to donate directly to CAC. Monetary donations made to CAC get double the impact since the nonprofit buys in bulk from the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
CAC always needs volunteers to help store, track, and distribute food.
Solidarity Sandy Springs
Jennifer Barnes, co-founder and board member of Solidarity Sandy Springs, told Rough Draft Atlanta that the organization is ready, willing and able to do whatever they can to help people in need.
Barnes said she just received a text from a woman who had been laid off, asking what she needed to do to get some help. As long as you live or work in Sandy Springs, Barnes said the organization can take care of it.
People seeking help need to bring verification that they live or work in Sandy Springs to the food pantry at 6315 Roswell Road at Sandy Springs Plaza on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays, from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
“We are cautiously optimistic that things will get worked out, but in the meantime, we’ve got food and we’ve got volunteers, and we are ready to go,” Barnes said.
Solidarity Sandy Springs provides food for food-insecure families and individuals. For food assistance emergencies, call or text 770-882-7209 or email info@solidaritysandysprings.org.
The organization posts a list of current food needs on its website. Monetary donations can be made online to help fund needs, which includes adding to the $5,000 spent weekly buying fruits and vegetables.
Burger Benefit Holiday Food Drive
NFA Burger kicked off a holiday food drive that includes eight other Dunwoody and Sandy Springs restaurants. Now through Christmas, restaurants like NFA Burger will serve as drop-off locations for nonperishable items to be donated to local food banks. Click here for the full list of participating restaurants.
Tita Tito from Kamayan ATL
With every rice bowl purchased from Filipino restaurant Kamayan ATL’s takeout and delivery business, Tita Tito, one rice bowl is donated to local nonprofits addressing food insecurity. Order online here. Volunteers welcomed to help pack rice bowls.
Yaba’s Bagels
Roswell bagel spot Yaba’s is offering free six-packs of pre-assorted bagels to anyone currently using SNAP — all you have to do is show a staff member your EBT card.
“At Yaba’s Bagels, we believe that food is a right, not a privilege,” the restaurant posted on Instagram.
In Tucker
Omega Support Center
Tucker’s Omega Support Center (OSC) at 2001 Montreal Road, Ste 100, offers mass food distributions, senior citizen boxes, outdoor pantries, and community dinners. (Food is not distributed directly from OSC.) The center is actively seeking donations for food and funds, as well as volunteers.
NETWorks Cooperative Ministry
NETWorks Cooperative Ministry at 4296 Cowan Road hosts a grocery-style food pantry on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The ministry always appreciates donations and volunteers.
Rehoboth Church Family Food Pantry
Rehoboth Church at 2997 Lawrenceville Hwy, offers a drive-thru food pantry on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1-3 p.m. The pantry accepts nonperishable food items and toiletries during office hours or on Sunday mornings.
Tucker First Methodist United Church
Tucker First Methodist United Church at 5095 Lavista Road offers a variety of mission-led services, including free meals, showers, temporary housing, and a community garden. Read more here. Volunteers and donations welcome
The Love Pantry at St. John AME Church
The Love Pantry at St. John AME Church at 1903 Clark Dr., which provides groceries to families in need, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Community drop-ins are welcome. Call ahead for schedule details.
Mount Moriah Church
Mount Moriah Church at 1983 Brockett Road hosts a food pantry and clothing closet on the fourth Thursday of every month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers and donations are always welcome.