Churches, King Center hold food drives as SNAP delays linger
The nation has begun recovering from the longest government shutdown in history, but local leaders and advocates in Georgia are still concerned about the gaps it left in the federal food assistance program.
Food drives were hosted at more than a half dozen locations across metro Atlanta, including the King Center, on Saturday.
“We know that people are still suffering and still struggling. We are living in very precarious times,” said Bernice A. King, daughter of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and King Center CEO. “We want the world to know today that although the shutdown is over, we have not shut down our compassion.”
The drives come as families across Georgia continue to wait for their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to return after the 43-day shutdown.
The end of the shutdown brought with it a deal to restore funding to the SNAP program. But it remains unclear when people who depend on the program will see that reflect on their EBT cards.
Outside of the King Center, droves of volunteers sorted through boxes of chicken, fresh produce and shelf-stable items, organizing them for pickup. Others worked with Atlanta police officers directing recipients through the distribution line on Auburn Avenue.
The King Center partnered with the King’s Table and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church to operate the drive, which they hoped would provide food to at least 1,000 people.
“It is our hope that providing this food gives hope and that people see that there is a brighter day coming,” New Birth Pastor Carla Stokes said shortly before the start of the food distribution at noon.
New Birth lead Pastor Jamal Bryant said it was the church’s second drive of the day. The first was on the church grounds in Stonecrest starting at 9 a.m.
“We were able to be the hands and the feet of God today to bless 1,500 people with groceries already this morning,” Bryant said.
But, he added, the church had to turn 500 people away when supplies ran out.
“This is an urgent moment not just for this community. It’s an urgent moment for our country,” he said.
Bryant said New Birth’s congregation had collected an additional $10,000 gift to donate to the King Center. And he added that the generosity shouldn’t stop there.
“We want to challenge churches and nonprofit groups from all over the country to match what it is that we are doing and to exceed what it is that we are doing,” Bryant said.
At least five other food drives occurred at locations in DeKalb County. Food distribution began as early as 6:30 a.m. at New Life Church in Decatur.
“No registration required,” DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said in an Instagram post ahead of the drives. “Just drive up and receive fresh, healthy food for your family.”
The others took place at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Tucker, Berean Christian Church in Stone Mountain, Plaza Fiesta in Atlanta and Saint Philip African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta.
“We anticipate that the problem will grow, but our solutions will as well,” King said. “We are prepared to meet the need, wherever it is.”
About the Author
Asia Simone Burns is a watchdog reporter for the AJC. Burns was formerly an intern in AJC’s newsroom and now writes about crime. She is a graduate of Samford University and has previously reported for NPR and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR member station.
