City of Refuge
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Athens-Clarke County
Athens Nonprofits Cope with Post-Shutdown SNAP Demand
Local nonprofits in Athens are continuing to feel the effects of the longest government shutdown in U.S history. “Until something gets taken away, you don’t really realize how much of a gift it is,” said Cole Phillips, CEO and Medical Director of Mercy Health Center, reflecting on the challenges faced…
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Athens-Clarke County
SNAP Benefit Cuts Leave Athens-Clarke Nonprofits Facing Sharp Rise in Demand
Geoff Rushing, founder of City of Refuge Athens, said Northeast Georgia has gone from “food insecurity crisis to food insecurity emergency.” On Nov. 1, for the first time in United States history, the federal government suspended benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program amid the federal government shutdown. The unprecedented…
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Athens-Clarke County
Retired Couple Fighting Hunger in Athens
Geoff Rushing and his wife Connie have long been concerned about hunger in their community, logging numerous hours volunteering with local homeless shelters and relief agencies. As they entered their retirement years, the couple saw the problem getting worse, and rather than ease into a life of leisure, they got…
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Athens-Clarke County
Athens Nonprofits Address Food Insecurity By Providing Aid to Hungry Children, Families
In 2024, we’re serving more individuals than ever due to inflation,” Geoff Rushing, founder of City of Refuge Athens, said. “When the price of gas goes up, or their power bill goes up, or groceries go up, they have to make a choice, am I going to pay my power…