Griffin food pantry could close by January as costs rise, demand triples

Share Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Leaders at a Griffin food pantry say it could shut down by January without more donations, as rising costs and growing demand strain its budget. Manna From Above President James Watson said the number of families seeking help has tripled over the past year. “In the last six months it’s almost doubled, from a year ago it has tripled. We’re doing, I think, like 850 families a month,” Watson said. According to data from the U.S. Census, Griffin has nearly double the statewide median poverty rate. The pantry’s leaders say diesel costs $2 more per gallon than it did a year ago, doubling the cost of picking up food. Diesel prices have reached record highs in Georgia and across the country since the start of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. “For gas, I would say about $100. For food, I would say about $400 to $500 every pickup,” Watson said. The Atlanta Community Food Bank is also facing higher costs. President and CEO Kyle Waide said fuel costs have risen about 60% since April. “Starting in April, we’ve seen fuel costs increase by about 60%. We’re now averaging about $25,000 a month just to put gas in the trucks that we use to get food out to the community,” Waide said. The food bank buys food in bulk and sells and distributes it to smaller pantries in the metro Atlanta area, including Manna From Above. “Overall we’re spending 30% or more higher than we were a few years ago just for food purchasing,” Waide said. He said the food bank has drawn on its reserves to cover the higher costs. “The biggest choices we’ve had to make as an organization is to pull money out of our reserves to absorb the cost of food and gas. We’re pulling money out of our savings, essentially,” Waide said. At Manna From Above, Watson said the pantry is working to make its supplies go further. “We’re having to stretch smaller portions across more boxes,” he said. “We’re getting creative, finding lower prices. Donations are down because everyone is in need at this point.” The pantry serves meat when it can afford shipments. Beef reached a record high national price of $7.16 per pound in August 2026. Watson said, “workers and volunteers sometimes pay out of pocket to stock the shelves -- not just with food, but with baby supplies and hygiene items, which they say are also in high demand.” Watson said the pantry needs food and monetary donations, as well as more volunteers, to keep its doors open into the new year. “This is a call for help, not only from Manna From Above but for all food pantries. Everyone is in need. Those who have it, should help,” he said. “I’m worrying about how we’re going to make it financially. People count on us. I mean, prayer. The future is unknown.” More information on the food pantry and how to donate can be found here . Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.