Gwinnett County has announced it will allocate $250,000 to support families facing disruptions in federal nutrition assistance programs. The funding will be used to purchase shelf-stable food, hygiene products, and household goods identified as most needed by local food cooperative partners.
The county will work with six cooperative ministries in Buford, Duluth, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, and Norcross under a zero-dollar distribution agreement. After delivery to a central site, county employees and volunteers will divide and deliver supplies directly to these partner locations. Residents seeking help are encouraged to contact their local co-op for appointments.
“When federal safety nets are disrupted, local governments and communities have to step in,” said Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. “More than 90,000 Gwinnett residents rely on SNAP, and as those benefits pause, we’re doing what we can to fill the gap. What started as food distribution has become a lifeline for thousands of families.”
This initiative continues five years of partnerships aimed at reducing food insecurity in Gwinnett County. One notable collaboration is with the Atlanta Community Food Bank through the Mobile Food Distribution Program, which delivers food directly to where residents live or gather.
“These co-ops have been on the ground helping families for years,” said Community Services Director Lindsey Jorstad. “Working through them allows us to reach residents across the entire county while making sure help gets where it’s needed most. Our goal is to meet people with dignity and make it a little easier for families to get by.”
Items purchased include soups, cereals, peanut butter, pancake mix, fruit cups, granola bars and electrolyte drinks along with paper towels, disinfecting wipes, laundry detergent and dish soap.
So far this year the county has hosted 42 mobile food distributions serving 334,000 meals to over 64,000 residents. Since 2020 more than 430,000 residents in over 103,000 households have received support through 323 distributions totaling 2.8 million pounds of food.
At these events families also receive home safety education from Fire and Emergency Services and smoke detector installations. Water Resources offers plumbing repairs and water-saving fixtures while One Stop for Help Community Navigators connect attendees with housing assistance as well as health care and job support.
Upcoming mobile food distribution events begin at 3 p.m., continuing while supplies last:
– Nov. 4 at Lenora Park in Snellville
– Nov. 18 at Bryson Park in Lilburn
– Dec. 9 at Rock Springs Park in Lawrenceville
– Dec. 16 at Shorty Howell Park in Duluth
– Dec. 23 at Rhodes Jordan Park in Lawrenceville
Residents needing assistance can contact One Stop for Help Community Navigators at (770) 822-8850 or use the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s Pantry Map online.
County teams plan to provide more than 450 meals to students enrolled in afterschool programs during school breaks so that children do not go hungry when schools are closed.
For older adults who are homebound or ill and aged sixty or older there is a Home Delivered Meals Program providing a five-day supply of frozen meals each week; more information is available by calling (678) 377-4150.
“Every number we share represents a life touched,” Hendrickson concluded. “We’re asking the community to stay involved — donate, volunteer or simply spread the word. Every act of kindness moves us forward.”
Gwinnett County intends to continue seeking additional funding sources for its ongoing food distribution efforts.
Enrollment at Gwinnett County schools increased by less than one-tenth of one percent during the previous school year according to state data (https://www.gadoe.org/). The district enrolled a total of over 190,000 students during that period (https://www.gadoe.org/), with white students representing eighteen percent of enrollment (https://www.gadoe.org/).
