Food Pantries, Meals on Wheels offer assistance to Coweta residents
By LaTINA EMERSON, The Coweta Shopper Deal Finder
As many households face financial challenges, people of all ages, from children to seniors, are facing food insecurity, or not having access to sufficient or quality food. Some people are being forced to make tough choices as grocery prices remain high and food assistance benefits are in jeopardy.
Food is a necessity, and local nonprofits and ministries are committed to helping families put nutritious meals on the table through food assistance programs, such as food pantries and Meals on Wheels. If your household is facing food insecurity, consider these local resources:
Bridging The Gap Community Outreach
Bridging The Gap Community Outreach, a nonprofit that provides food and resources to families in need, is focused on ending hunger in Coweta County. Each week, Bridging The Gap provides nutritious food to hundreds of families across the county.
Every Saturday, families can receive a variety of groceries, including fresh produce, meats, pantry staples and other essentials, at a weekly food distribution. It’s recommended for those in need to arrive no later than 8 a.m. Food is distributed on a first come, first served basis. Recipients will drive up, stay in their vehicle and check in with a volunteer, who will gather basic information, such as their name and household size. Then, volunteers will load boxes and bags of food into the vehicle.
Bridging the Gap also serves hot meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m.
The nonprofit also has a Home Delivery program for individuals who can’t attend food distributions in person due to age, disability, illness, lack of transportation or other hardships, according to the organization’s WEBSITE.
Bridging The Gap Community Outreach is at 19 First Ave. in Newnan. For more information, call 770-683-9110 or email [email protected]. The nonprofit is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Wednesdays and Fridays, services are available by appointment only.
The Salvation Army of Newnan
The Salvation Army of Newnan offers a food pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon for Coweta residents. To receive assistance, residents must present a photo ID and complete required paperwork.
The Salvation Army of Newnan is at 670 Jefferson St. in Newnan. To access the food pantry, visitors should go to the social services door. For more information, visit https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/newnan/hunger-relief or call 770-251-8181.
One Roof Ecumenical Alliance Outreach
One Roof Ecumenical Alliance Outreach offers food, clothing and financial assistance to families in crisis. The nonprofit’s food pantry is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Clients can receive a voucher for a supplemental food box twice a month, but never consecutive weeks. The boxes are prepacked based on the size of the client’s household. To receive food for all household members, clients must list their dependents on the application. Verification, which includes photo ID, Social Security card or birth certificate, is required for all dependents and the client, according to One Roof’s website.
When items are in stock, diapers (infant and adult), baby formula, personal hygiene bundles, and pet food are available upon request.
Individuals in need of clothing or shoes can ask for a voucher to the thrift store on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. (Must arrive by 3:15 p.m.) Vouchers can be made for present and verified household members once every six months. The clothing selection varies with donations and will shift with the seasons. The thrift store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Clients can also seek financial assistance with utility bills (water, electrical, etc.) or rent. Only Coweta County residents are eligible. Financial assistance is a one-time service that will be granted once per household. Clients must complete an in-person application and provide the required support documents (including proof of income from at least the last 30 days). The application will be reviewed before financial support is granted, according to One Roof’s website. Those in need can apply for financial assistance on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m.
In addition, One Roof offers counseling (pastoral and licensed) either virtually or in-person. To receive a free counseling session, call One Roof to set up an appointment.
One Roof Ecumenical Alliance Outreach is at 255 Temple Ave. in Newnan. For more information, visit https://www.oneroofoutreach.org, call 770-683-7705 or email [email protected].
Alpha Omega Mission Center (AO House)
The Alpha Omega Mission Center (AO House), a ministry of First Baptist Church in Newnan and the Western Baptist Association, provides food and clothing to those in need from Monday through Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m. Photo ID or proof of identity is required.
The Alpha Omega Mission Center is at 70 Madison St. in Newnan behind First Baptist Church (15 W. Washington St. in Newnan). For more information, visit https://www.fbcnewnan.org/ministries/missions/ao-mission-center/ or call 770-683-6477.
Backpack Buddies of Georgia
Backpack Buddies of Georgia provides economically disadvantaged children in the Coweta County School System with food for the weekend. The nonprofit also provides holiday break bags to assist families during long school holidays. Each weekend bag includes two breakfast items, two lunch items, two fruit cups and a variety of snacks.
Food assistance is available to all students in Coweta County schools. Students should reach out to their school counselor.
Backpack Buddies is at 96 Werz Industrial Blvd. in Newnan. For more information, email [email protected], visit https://backpackbuddiesga.org/ or call 678-770-8618.
Yeager Road Community Resource Center
The Yeager Road Community Resource Center, a ministry of Newnan First Seventh-Day Adventist Church, has a Mobile Food Pantry on the second Saturday of each month from 3 to 5 p.m. The food, which includes fresh produce, is available first come, first served. The next Mobile Food Pantry will be held on Saturday, December 6.
The Yeager Road Community Resource Center is at 265 Yeager Road in Newnan. For more information, visit https://yeagerrdresourcecenter.org/ or call 770-251-8378.
Meals on Wheels of Coweta
Meals on Wheels of Coweta strives to improve the lives of older adults by delivering nutritious meals to their homes. The nonprofit’s goal is for no senior to ever go hungry.
Meals on Wheels of Coweta provides home delivered meals at no charge to individuals who are 65 or older, homebound because of disability or chronic illness, physically unable to prepare meals for themselves, don’t receive regular assistance from others, may be on hospice care or may live alone.
Meals are prepared by a professionally trained chef. Clients receive beverages, fruit and cereal along with their meals. Two meal plans are available. The first plan provides five meals per week, and the second plan provides seven meals per week. The meals are delivered Monday through Friday to clients throughout Coweta County.
To receive meals or volunteer, contact Meals on Wheels of Coweta at 678-423-1700 or [email protected] or visit https://mealsonwheelscoweta.org.
Palmetto Community Food Pantry
Palmetto Baptist Church’s food pantry, the Palmetto Community Food Pantry, is open each Monday from 2 to 5 p.m. to citizens of Palmetto. Families in need can come once a month to receive a bag of food and a word of encouragement.
To meet the demand, food donations are also needed. Frequently needed items include jam/jelly, peanut butter, canned veggies, ravioli, spaghetti sauce, Hamburger Helper, chicken/beef broth, Jell-O/pudding cups, alfredo powder mix, ramen noodles, cereal, pancake mix/syrup, SpaghettiOs, mac/cheese, canned soup, Jiffy cornmeal mix, taco meals, instant potatoes, grits/oatmeal packets, Pop-Tarts, and seasoning packets such as taco or chili.
Palmetto Baptist Church is at 6344 North Highway 29 in Palmetto, Ga., but the food pantry will be held at the park across from the Dollar General store at 592 Main Street in Palmetto. For more information, call 770-463-4642.
