What Georgia Families Need to Know as Nabilah Islam Parkes Urges Emergency SNAP Action - Explore Gwinnett's Best in Business, AI & Tech News 2025

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With the federal government shutdown now in its fourth week, State Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes (D–Duluth) is calling on Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to take immediate action to protect more than 1.4 million Georgians who may lose access to SNAP benefits beginning November 1.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—commonly known as food stamps—has been halted due to Congress’s failure to reach a funding agreement by the October 1 deadline. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned that benefits will stop being distributed if the shutdown continues into November, leaving families without essential food assistance.

Senator Islam Parkes, who represents parts of Gwinnett County, sent a formal letter to Governor Kemp urging him to declare a State of Emergency to ensure that Georgia families do not go hungry.

“My constituents have reached out to me, worried they will struggle to feed their families if they do not receive their SNAP benefits on Nov. 1,” Islam Parkes said. “Food is not optional, and we have a moral obligation to see to it that Georgia families do not go hungry.”

In her letter, Islam Parkes noted that Georgia currently holds a $14.6 billion budget surplus that could be used to provide temporary relief. She pointed to states like Virginia and Louisiana, where governors have used similar measures to continue food assistance during federal shutdowns.

“Declaring a state of emergency would empower your administration to allocate these funds swiftly,” she wrote, “ensuring continuity of food assistance for SNAP recipients until federal operations resume.”

The senator emphasized that more than 640,000 children, as well as seniors and working families, would be directly impacted if the shutdown persists. “By addressing the needs of SNAP recipients,” she added, “we can safeguard the health and well-being of our most vulnerable Georgia families.”

Governor Kemp, however, has placed responsibility for the crisis on federal Democrats. In an Oct. 24 post on X (formerly Twitter), he referred to it as the “Schumer shutdown,” writing:

“As the impacts of the Schumer shutdown are becoming clearer for Georgians, Democrats like Senators Ossoff and Warnock still refuse to do their jobs and open the government.”

Meanwhile, residents across Gwinnett County—one of the most diverse and populous counties in the state—are growing increasingly anxious about how they will put food on the table. Local nonprofits and food pantries are already preparing for a possible surge in demand.

Senator Islam Parkes says she stands ready to work with the Governor’s office to find a bipartisan solution that prioritizes Georgia families over politics.

“This declaration aligns with our shared commitment to supporting Georgians in times of need,” she said. “I urge prompt action to avert unnecessary hardship for hardworking Georgia families.”