In Atlanta, the need has never been greater.
What once was 3,000 calls for help each month has grown to more than 15,000 — each one representing a neighbor in crisis, a family on the brink, or a veteran seeking stability.
Our community has always rallied around this mission, and because of your compassion, Hope Atlanta has been able to continue providing housing, stability, and hope for neighbors across Georgia. Your support ensures families find safety, food, and a path forward.
Today, we find ourselves at a time when we must ask for your support again. With need at an all-time high—and a potential food access crisis ahead—we need our community to come together once more so no neighbor is left hungry or alone.
But our work is far from done. The calls keep coming — and we need the continued support of our community to make sure no neighbor faces hardship alone.
A New Crisis Looms: SNAP Benefits at Risk
A significant percentage of the individuals and families we serve rely on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to feed themselves and their children. At Hope Atlanta, nearly 20 percent of the 6.500 neighbos we served last year received SNAP benefits — households already stretching every dollar to keep food on the table.
If the federal government shutdown continues, SNAP benefits will be disrupted on November 1, creating an immediate food access emergency for families across our state.
The impact is staggering:
- More than 687,000 Georgia households rely on SNAP
- 80% of SNAP recipients in Georgia include a child, a senior, or an adult with a disability
Without intervention, many will face empty pantries — and empty plates.
For families already on the edge, the loss of SNAP isn’t just a hardship. It’s a breaking point.
We Cannot Wait — We Must Prepare Now
We anticipate a sharp increase in demand at our Women’s Community Kitchen and food pantry — both of which already operate with limited inventory. To be ready, we must mobilize now.
Hope Atlanta is calling on individuals, companies, schools, faith communities, and neighborhoods to step forward by hosting urgent food drives to get ahead of this crisis before it peaks.
One Small Thing to Spark Action
You can start at home, in your office, at your place of worship, or even at your gym. Here are simple ways to make an impact:
- Host a food drive in your workplace, school, place of worship, gym, or neighborhood
- Encourage friends, colleagues, neighbors, and community groups to participate
- Donate non-perishable items directly to Hope Atlanta.
Requested items:
- Gift Cards to grocery stores
- Canned vegetables, fruit, soups, beans, tuna, chicken
- Peanut butter, pasta, rice, cereal, baby food
- Shelf-stable milk and juice
Even a single jar of peanut butter, a box of pasta, or a can of vegetables can help a family bridge the gap during a shutdown. It’s a simple act — but simple acts scale, especially when driven by empathy and community care.
Donations can be dropped off at Hope Atlanta. Please reach out to Elizabeth Banks at
onesmallthing@hopeatlanta.org to coordinate.
