The Atlanta Community Food Bank says one in six children in Atlanta will go hungry tonight, and demand on its pantry network is still climbing. Greg Sims, a food bank representative, said visits across the partner network are up 70 percent over the last four years. The organization serves nearly 300,000 households every month across 29 counties.
"Neighbors, kids, seniors, hard-working adults that are struggling to make ends meet and afford enough food," Sims said. "We have seen 70 percent increase in neighbors visiting our pantry network over the last four years." Inflation is forcing families to make difficult tradeoffs. Fixed costs like rent and utilities cannot be trimmed, so the grocery budget gets cut. Parents often skip meals so kids can eat.
The food bank is running its annual Fight Hunger, Spark Change campaign through May 3. Customers at Walmart and Sam's Club locations can round up totals or buy specific products to contribute. Every dollar raised stays in the local community. Last year's campaign brought in close to $3 million for Southeast food banks. The surge comes as Georgia lawmakers shelved summer food assistance for kids until 2027 and federal SNAP rollbacks continue to squeeze families already at the edge.
