Street Charity seeks funding for 100,000 holiday meal cards

Street Charity, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, wants to put 100,000 prepaid $5 meal cards in the hands of metro Atlanta children before the end of the year.

The cards, which work at most fast-food restaurants, target kids who rely on free or reduced-price school meals during the academic year. When schools close for Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, those meals disappear. Street Charity's goal is to give 20,000 Atlanta-area children five cards each, according to a Nov. 2 segment on Atlanta News First's ATL Live.

The drive comes as food assistance in Georgia is shrinking. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington-based research group, estimates that Georgia's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation fell by about 133,135 people — a 9% drop — between July 2025 and June 2026. Children accounted for roughly 52,242 of those losses statewide, according to the same tracker.

The federal cuts have forced Georgia to spend more on its own. Gov. Brian Kemp's fiscal year 2027 budget includes $46.4 million to cover a larger share of SNAP administration costs after federal funding was reduced, according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.

Each Street Charity card is a Discover Network prepaid card loaded with $5. The total cost per card, including tax coverage and processing, is $6.99, according to the nonprofit's website. Cards that go unused expire after six months, and any remaining balance is returned to Street Charity to support food banks and shelters.

The nonprofit distributes cards through a network of partner organizations including schools, churches, city governments and other nonprofits. Individuals can also donate to receive cards and hand them out directly.

No Johns Creek-specific distribution site or partner has been announced. Residents interested in donating or learning more can visit streetcharity.org or call (678) 592-6235.

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