Food insecurity in Athens County has intensified following a recent lapse in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. According to the Athens County Foundation, 16% of Athens residents lost their primary food source during the lapse. An estimated 9,800 residents are food insecure, and 63% of the county is eligible for SNAP.
In response, community donations to food banks, pantries and mutual aid efforts have increased. The Athens Local Drive Thru, located at 748 E. State St., has added a free community refrigerator offering donated perishable food to anyone who needs it.
The drive-thru, which sells milk, alcoholic beverages, nicotine products, snacks and firewood, now keeps the fridge near its register. It is stocked with milk, eggs, vegetables and other perishable items, with a sign at the top noting all food inside is free and donations are welcome.
Kevin Mann, the drive-thru’s front-of-house manager, said the project began because a customer and friend of Mann’s, described as “Athens’ Jack Sparrow,” frequently brought in food he did not want to go to waste.
As more people began taking the items, the drive-thru needed a designated space to store the food. One day, when a local meat supplier fell through, the staff repurposed the empty refrigerator for a food drop box.
“I kind of talked with ownership, and I was like, ‘Why don't we do something for the community? I'll take on cleaning it up, organizing stuff,’” Mann said. “We can do something that is really helpful to the community and serve the residents that you know support us.”
Mann started the fridge about a month ago, and has received quite a lot of attention from it. He created a post on Facebook on Nov. 3 about the fridge, which received over 200 likes and many comments from people interested in donating. Everyday customers seem to love the initiative, and often donate what they can.
Mann said the setup allows residents to pick up food discreetly by driving through in their car. It also makes it more accessible for people with mobility concerns. If one does not own a car, they can visit the front of the drive-thru where staff will assist anyone who walks up.
Mann said the fridge is not intended to discourage anyone from donating to local blessing boxes or food pantries and described the fridge as an extra resource for those who may need it.
“We had a lot of community, outpouring of response and that's been great,” Mann said. “Athens is an incredibly supportive community, and it's been beautiful to see the love that people have been showing.”
Customers have contributed consistently, including purchasing milk specifically for the fridge. Melissa Bailes-Jewell, a friend of Mann’s and customer of Athens Drive Thru, has been making complete meal kits, with recipes and all items needed to make a hearty meal for themselves.
Bailes-Jewell said the meal kits were her daughter's idea after seeing similar kits on TikTok. Bailes-Jewell posted in her Athens women’s group on Facebook asking for help putting together meals. With their help, Bailes-Jewell and others were able to put together 69 meals in five days.
“Avery, my daughter, she has a kind soul,” Bailes-Jewell said. “She had sent me a video of a lady off of Tiktok who does Dollar Tree dinners. All the items to cook it are in that baggy and then you take him to blessing boxes or wherever.”
Bailes-Jewell’s family showed up to help out, and she was able to purchase 20 more meals with donations from a friend.
For those interested in supporting the community fridge, the Athens Drive Thru welcomes donations every day from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
