What is Shawn Walton doing to help his Atlanta community?

Shawn Walton, an Atlanta resident, is growing fresh produce in his urban garden and giving it away for free to his neighbors who are struggling with food insecurity due to SNAP benefit cuts.

How has Shawn Walton's initiative impacted families like Tate's in Atlanta?

Shawn Walton's initiative to provide free, locally grown produce has made a significant difference for families like Tate's, who live along Northside Drive in Atlanta. Tate, a father of eight, says the fresh produce is "a blessing" in the current economic climate.

What is Shawn Walton's goal beyond just feeding his neighbors?

Shawn Walton's mission goes beyond just filling empty stomachs. He wants his Atlanta community to have access to healthy, locally grown food and to learn how to grow it themselves, as an alternative to the processed and shelf-stable options that are often high in preservatives and other unhealthy additives.

Home / Lifestyle / Atlanta Local Grows Free Produce to Feed Neighbors Amid SNAP Cuts

Atlanta Local Grows Free Produce to Feed Neighbors Amid SNAP Cuts

14 Nov

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Summary

Atlanta man Shawn Walton grows produce to give away to neighbors
Launched initiative to collect donations as SNAP benefits were reduced
Provides fresh, healthy food to families struggling with food insecurity

Atlanta Local Grows Free Produce to Feed Neighbors Amid SNAP Cuts

In November 2025, as delays in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits continue to leave many Atlanta families struggling to put food on the table, one local man is taking matters into his own hands. Shawn Walton, a resident of the city's West Side, has been growing fresh produce in his urban garden since 2011 and is now using his harvest to feed his neighbors.

When SNAP benefits were reduced, Walton noticed more people in his community going without. Determined to help, he launched an initiative to collect fruits and vegetables not only from his own plot but from anyone willing to donate part of their harvest. Walton has partnered with the Historic Westside Gardens, where local growers have contributed collards, turnips, kale, onions, and garlic to the cause.