Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food Bank In Gwinnett County

Dacula GA

16 September, 2020

1:07 PM

Description

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — When you look around Gwinnett County, it's easy to see the effects the coronavirus has had on our way of life. What's less visible is the number of people who are now worrying about having enough to eat. Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, says coronavirus-related economic crises could push the number of food insecure Americans to 54 million by year's end. That's 17 million more Americans than who were food insecure before the pandemic. For some, it's a matter of running short on grocery money before the week is out and eating a lot of boxed pasta and rice dishes. For others, food insecurity means real hunger. In Gwinnett County, about 81,160 were considered food insecure before the pandemic, according to Feeding America's "Map the Meal Gap" interactive study. Job loss and other economic crises associated with the coronavirus could push the rate of food insecurity in Gwinnett County to 14.3 percent by the end of the year. Feeding America, whose 200 member food banks include seven food banks in Georgia, reports both higher demand for services and more need for volunteer and donor support. Food banks near Gwinnett County listed by Feeding America include: Atlanta Community Food Bank 3400 N. Desert Dr. Atlanta, GA 30344 404-892-9822 acfb.org Georgia Mountain Food Bank 1642 Calvary Industrial Dr. SW Gainesville, GA 30507 770-534-4111 gamountainfoodbank.org Other Gwinnett County food banks include BUFORD Buford Family Community Center 4042 Friendship Road Buford, GA 30519 678-292-5954 bufordfamilysda.org North Gwinnett Co-Operative 4395 Commerce Dr. Buford, GA 30518 770-271-9793 northgwinnettcoop.org DACULA The Pantry at HMUMC Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church 1450 Pine Road #1455 Dacula, GA 30019 770-271-8855 hmumc.org/thepantry DULUTH CarePointe Community Outreach 1800 Satellite Blvd. NW Duluth, GA 30097 678-802-7233 crosspointechurch.com/carepointe/ Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op 3395 Fox St. NW Duluth, GA 30096 770-623-9563 duluthco-op.org GRAYSON Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry 55 Grayson Industrial Parkway Grayson, GA 30017 www.segwinnettcoop.org LAWRENCEVILLE Lawrenceville Co-Op Ministry 52 Gwinnett Dr. Suite C Lawrenceville, GA 30046 770-339-7887 lawrencevilleco-op.org Madinah Food Pantry 211 Culver St. S Lawrenceville, GA 30046 madinahfoodpantry.org StreetWise Georgia 1770 Cedars Road SE Lawrenceville, GA 30045 678-985-9952 streetwisegeorgia.org LILBURN Lilburn Cooperative Ministry 5329 Five Forks Trickum Road SW Lilburn, GA 30047 770-931-8333 lilburnco-op.org NORCROSS Norcross Cooperative Ministry 500 Pinnacle Ct. Norcross, GA 30071 770-263-8268 ourncm.org SNELLVILLE Overcomers House Fountain Square Business Center 2114 McGee Road SW Snellville, GA 30078 678-615-7714 www.myovercomershouse.com Place of Enlightenment 2720 Centerville Hwy. Snellville, GA 30078 770-982-8221 RELATED: Millions Made Hungry During Pandemic Could Include Your Neighbor Food insecurity is often thought of as a "poor people's problem," but not all people living in poverty are food insecure, and not all food insecure people live in poverty. Food insecurity is a complex issue sandwiched in with other systemic challenges, including poverty, low wages, affordable housing shortages, chronic and acute health problems, high medical costs and social isolation. "Our members are reporting that many of the people they're serving have never sought food assistance before," Kathryn Strickland, Feeding America's chief network officer, told Patch. "Some people are reporting that people who formerly donated to food banks are now seeking assistance." Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.