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.

Walton loads up the produce on his cart and hands it out for free near Westview Drive and Lawton Street. The sight of children excitedly receiving fresh apples is one of the most rewarding parts of his day, as Walton knows the importance of providing healthy, locally grown food to help them grow stronger.

For families like Tate's, who live along Northside Drive, Walton's efforts have made a significant difference. "Having this produce right here is everything," says Tate, a father of eight. "In this economy, it's a blessing, honestly."

Walton's mission goes beyond just filling empty stomachs. He wants his 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.

As food prices remain high and assistance programs continue to face uncertainty, Walton's message is clear: everyone can make a difference, one seed, one harvest, and one act of kindness at a time.