Protesters demand action from Gov. Kemp as SNAP benefits remains in limbo

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Demonstrators fed up with the back and forth in Washington D.C. marched from the Atlanta History Center to the Governor’s Mansion demanding action for those who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“There’s no reason why we should be spending millions of dollars in Argentina, or millions of dollars on a ballroom in the White House while anyone in our country goes hungry,” said Martha Jean Schindler, who’s with Woodstock Can.

Protesters said Gov. Brian Kemp should use state reserves to help people who rely on SNAP to put food on the table.

“I would ask (Kemp) to take care of his citizens and not let partisan politics get in the way of making sure people have food,” Schindler said.

This happens as the program is in limbo after a Supreme Court justice ruling siding with President Trump and pausing the funding for now.

On the other side of town at aGROWKulture Urban Farm, 10-year-old Kendall Rae Johnson opened her farm up for a harvest day, but also to help those in need right now.

“Today is a big community gathering. I have my friends and family here,” she said.

Johnson said people also came from out of town to visit the farm.

“Who would have known that it would have coincided with the stopping of SNAP benefits?” Fulton County commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. said.

Families impacted by the SNAP emergency were offered free fresh food from Johnson’s farm.

As the government shutdown drags on, food banks and good Samaritans have been stepping in to fill the gap.

“What if everyone had a garden in their front yard like Kendall Rae Johnson? We’d be in a much better place and may not need to rely on SNAP benefits,” Arrington said.

As the future of SNAP remains in limbo, protesters are hopeful the state can step in.

“The SNAP program is federally funded and requires budgetary action from the U.S. Congress to load money onto beneficiary cards,” Kemp said in a press release. “There is no mechanism by which the state can replace benefits on customer cards.”

Kemp said the only way to restore funding for SNAP is to reopen the government.