food insecurity
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Athens-Clarke County
Community-Owned, Community-Saved: Daily Groceries Co-op Stands Resilient
Daily Groceries Co-op has been an Athens institution since 1992, but earlier this year, the community nearly lost it for good. Unlike a chain grocery store, a co-op is owned by the people who shop there. Members buy in, have a say in how the store is run, and any…
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Athens-Clarke County
Northeast Georgia Food Bank Competes to Give Back
In Northeast Georgia, friendly competition is fueling a big impact. Food insecurity remains a pressing issue not only in Athens but across Northeast Georgia. Thousands of residents are impacted everyday and face challenges of getting food on the table. Every October, the Northeast Georgia Food Bank hosts their annual Hunger…
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Athens-Clarke County
Athens Families Face Hunger Crisis as Federal Food Aid Expires
About 60% of Athens-Clarke County students rely on free or reduced school meals, a vital lifeline that could be at risk as federal food assistance programs face drastic cuts in the new federal budget and the impact of the government shutdown. Earlier this year, Congress passed legislation reducing federal support…
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Food
Northeast Georgia Food Bank Lends Neighbors A Hand to A Healthier Plate
Many Athens residents live in food deserts. And according to Feeding America, almost 20% of residents in Clarke County were living in food insecurity as of 2023. But the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia is leading the charge to not only feed every mouth, but to do so sustainably. Athens-Clarke…
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Environment
From Farm to Food Bank: Watkinsville Couple Brings Fresh Produce to Those in Need
When Dennis Mason and Eleanor Walker, a couple living in Watkinsville, heard there was a need for food at the local food bank, they knew they wanted to do something, even if only on a small scale. It began as a small garden that Mason would tend to in his…
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Athens-Clarke County
Athens Land Trust: Creating Community, Battling Food Insecurity
Food insecurity, the lack of reliable access to affordable, nutritious food, is a pressing issue in Georgia and Athens-Clarke County is no exception to the growing challenge. According to Feeding America, the food insecurity rate in Athens in 2022 was 16.8%, which is higher than the national average. Many local…
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Athens-Clarke County
Panhellenic Organizations Help to Combat Food Insecurity on Campus
Hundreds of cans and nonperishable food products line the shelves in a small room in the back corner of the Tate Student Center’s first floor. What people walking through the building might not realize is that inside that tiny room, workers are providing food to hungry University of Georgia students.…
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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
Local Farmer Uses Community Garden to Fight Food Insecurity
Syndey Buffington, the community director of agriculture for Athens Land Trust, is not like most farmers. Now in her 11th year of farming, Buffington made the switch from commercial farming to community farming, hoping to reduce food insecurity in Athens-Clarke County. Food insecurity is defined as the limited or uncertain…
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Athens-Clarke County
Prince Market, Athens’ Newest Downtown Grocery, Fills More Than Shelves
Prince Market, Athens’ newest downtown grocery store, hopes to fill a gap in an area previously classified as a food desert by the USDA. A family-owned business, it provides diverse local products and personalized service — a vital resource for residents and students living in the heart of the city.…