Hunger relief agencies and food pantries across Georgia are reporting two alarming trends: more families are showing up in need, and less food is available to serve them.
To get a clearer picture of the situation in Georgia, Concrete Jungle conducted a 2025 Partner State-of-Affairs Poll with 20 hunger relief agencies across the state. The results confirm what many of us feared: things are getting worse.
September is Hunger Action Month—a time to come together and take meaningful steps to fight hunger. And this year, action has never been more urgent. We’re calling on all Georgians to give $30 by September 30th to help us address these issues through our food recovery programs.
What We Learned from the 2025 Poll
- Rising demand:
- 80% of agencies say more families are seeking food and assistance.
- On average, demand has grown by 23% compared to this time in 2024.
- Only one agency reported fewer families, and they suspect immigration enforcement activity has discouraged families from seeking help.
- 80% of agencies say more families are seeking food and assistance.
- Shrinking supply:
- 70% of agencies are receiving less food each month—from both distributing food banks and grocery store donations.
- Many agencies now must purchase food themselves (rather than having enough in donated food), straining already limited budgets.
- As one Atlanta agency explained, “Stores do not have as much food waste due to better ordering practices [thanks to AI].” While efficient for grocers, it leaves agencies with fewer donations to pass along.
- 70% of agencies are receiving less food each month—from both distributing food banks and grocery store donations.
This is echoed in a recent Georgia Budget and Policy Institute poll that stated:
- More than half of Georgians had trouble affording enough food in the past year.
- Nearly half (48%) worried they’d run out before being able to buy more.
Not Just a Georgia Problem
Georgia’s struggle reflects a national trend.
- Feeding America’s Elevating Voices: Insights Report (Sept. 2025) found that:
- 80% of neighbors have been forced to buy cheaper, less nutritious food due to high prices.
- 52% ran out of food in the past year before having money to buy more—including 28% just in the past month.
- 80% of neighbors have been forced to buy cheaper, less nutritious food due to high prices.
The picture is bleak—but there is something we can do about it.
How You Can Help
Concrete Jungle recovers and purchases excess and imperfect produce and delivers it to food pantries and agencies that get them to families in need. Without your support, this food often rots in fields or costs farmers money to haul away. With your help, we harness volunteers to harvest it or purchase it directly from farmers and deliver it to hunger relief partners who have years of experience serving families in need.
The Time For Action Is Here
Will you give $30 by September 30th to help families put food on the table and support Georgia farmers?
As times get harder, Hunger Action Month has never been more important. And your gift has never mattered more.