Gwinnett County has allocated $250,000 to support residents affected by disruptions to federal nutrition assistance programs. According to a Gwinnett County press release, the funds will be used to purchase food and hygiene products through existing annual contracts, based on needs identified by local cooperative partners.
The Gwinnett County is working with six cooperative ministries in Buford, Duluth, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, and Norcross to distribute supplies such as shelf-stable foods and household essentials. Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson said the initiative aims to address immediate needs when federal programs are interrupted.
Community Services Director Lindsey Jorstad stated that working with local co-ops allows the county to reach residents efficiently. The distributed items include soups, cereals, peanut butter, electrolyte drinks, laundry detergent, and disinfecting wipes. The county’s food distribution events also offer services such as home safety education and referrals for housing, healthcare, and employment assistance.
This year, Gwinnett County has hosted 42 mobile food distributions, serving over 64,000 residents and providing 334,000 meals. Since 2020, the program has reached more than 430,000 residents across 103,000 households and distributed 2.8 million pounds of food. The county also provides meals for students during school breaks and delivers weekly frozen meals to homebound residents aged 60 and older.
Upcoming mobile food distributions will take place at Lenora Park in Snellville on Tuesday and Bryson Park in Lilburn on Nov. 18, with additional events planned in December. Residents seeking assistance can contact the One Stop for Help Community Navigators at (770) 822-8850 or use the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s Pantry Map to find local resources.
