APS FOOD DISTRIBUTION
After Spring Break, beginning Monday, April 13, APS will be streamlining meal distribution to provide meals one day a week each Monday from 10 a.m. to noon rather than 5 days per week. At any of these sites, you can pull up for drive-thru service or you can walk up for service. APS will offer a two-part food distribution service:
- First, students will receive five-day meal bags, containing five breakfast meals and five lunch meals each Monday. Those meals will be available at the 10 APS school sites via drive through and walk up. In addition, those five-day breakfast and lunch meals will be delivered through the bus delivery service on only the Monday using the same route schedule (please check the website https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/62031 for exact times).
- Second, a bag of weekly groceries will also be available to families at the five anchor sites (Bunche Middle School, Cleveland Avenue Elementary School, Douglass High School, Phoenix Academy, and Sylvan Hills Middle School).
Finally, if you would like to volunteer at any APS food distribution sites, please click here to use this sign up genius.
There are groups and individuals who are interested in helping to pick up food for families without transportation. They will do their best to meet your family’s needs. If you do not have transportation and would like assistance, please contact Sr’Lis Powell with Parent Avengers at Sr’Lis Powell spowell@parentavengers.org to see if she might be able to assist you.
As a reminder: The At Promise Center is serving meals from 11-2 Monday through Friday.
CHANGES TO SNAP RULES and BENEFITS
Some SNAP rules have changed because of COVID 19, and the new rules could allow you to receive important benefits during the crisis. Contact the Benefits Outreach team at (678)553-5917 to find out if you qualify.
1) SNAP households may receive a supplemental benefit (more than the regular monthly amount) for the months of March and April 2020. If you just enrolled in SNAP, you may still receive the benefit for the time that you have been on the program. Extra benefits will be loaded to the EBT card automatically.
2) No SNAP recipients are required to file evidence of work through the end of May 2020. If you lost SNAP benefits because of work requirements, you may be eligible now.
3) The re-certification deadline for current SNAP households has been extended by 6 months. Households that were required to re-certify (re-apply) for SNAP in March, April, May, June, July or August of 2020 will have their deadline automatically extended six months past the original deadline.
4) GA DFCS has closed many physical offices to prevent transmission of the virus. You are encouraged to apply online or request an application over the phone. In-person visits to DFCS may only be permitted with an appointment.
5) Other benefit programs, like Medicaid, school meals, and WIC, also have new rules because of COVID 19. Even if you were not eligible for these programs in the past, you may be able to receive them on an emergency basis. Call us for more information.
Not sure whether these rules apply to you or your family? The Atlanta Community Food Bank can help. Call (678)553-5917 or email benefits@acfb.org to get information right away.
EVICTION ISSUES
If you has been served with an eviction notice or are being evicted, please contact Darrius Woods from AVLF at dwoods@avlf.org. He is working remotely and can help guide you.
Georgia Legal Aid also has a resource list that may be helpful: https://www.georgialegalaid.org/resource/covid-19-resource-list