Here is a list of culturally specific food pantries in the Atlanta metro

Amid a government shutdown that’s preventing federal employees from receiving their paychecks—and interruptions to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—more people are turning to food pantries to find sustenance. In Georgia, 1.4 million residents rely on SNAP benefits, out of about 42 million people nationwide.

Although many of the food pantries accept donations of food items, organizers told 285 South that monetary donations are more helpful because they can buy groceries at wholesale prices. 

Here is a list of food pantries where you can find free food. Some also offer culturally and religiously specific items, such as halal meat and Maseca (corn flour). The list will be updated as more information becomes available. 

Food pantries at immigrant-specific organizations: 

• Latin American Association: People can pick up one or two bags of food, depending on family size, once a month. Walk-ins are accepted Monday through Friday at 2750 Buford Highway in Brookhaven.
• Latin American Association, Norcross location: Open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Walk-ins are welcome. (5320 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, GA 30093)
• Madinah Food Pantry: Delivers free, culturally appropriate food for Muslim families in need of halal foods, including meat. Submit a request here.
• ICNA Relief Georgia Food Pantry: Open Friday through Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at 4773 Memorial Drive in Decatur. Halal items are available. For more information contact munsif.luthfullah@icnarelief.org or call 770-300-0067.
• Center for Pan-Asian Community Services: Food pantry accepts walk-ins on Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 3510 Shallowford Road in Chamblee. Around 9 a.m., people can line up to grab a ticket, with food distribution starting at noon. 
• Little Bodega: We Love Buford Highway’s weekly food pantry serves 12 local families identified to have the greatest needs. Every six months, they switch the families they support. To join the wait list, reach out to program manager Delia Mendez at delia.mendez@welovebuhi.org 

Additional food pantries and resources:

• Clarkston First Baptist Church: Food pantry every Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m. at 3999 Church Street in Clarkston.
• Suthers Center Food Pantry: Weekly drive-through on Saturdays from 8 to 10 a.m. at St. Martin in the Fields Church at 3110 Ashford Dunwoody Road in Brookhaven. 
• St. Vincent de Paul Georgia: Provides food assistance on a first come, first served basis, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2050 Chamblee Tucker Road in Chamblee. 
• Malachi’s Storehouse at Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church: Food pantry open on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. People can either drive through or walk up and receive food and clothing at 4755 North Peachtree Road in Dunwoody. 
• Toco Hills Community Alliance: Food pantry open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at 1790 Lavista Road in Atlanta. No appointment is needed, and people can pick up a bag of groceries every week. A limited amount of hot lunches is available for unhoused people, and once a month they organize a mobile food pantry. 
• Atlanta Community Food Bank, Marietta: Appointments are required, and the food distribution hours per day are available here, at 1605 Austell Road in Marietta.
• Gwinnett County is delivering food through One Stop for Help Community Navigators. Call 770-822-8850.