AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Community members are coming together to pray for Augusta’s latest shooting victims.

The Richmond County coroner says 22-year-old Jaleen Sumpter died Sunday night on C Street in Olmstead Homes and another person was taken to the hospital after being shot in the leg.

And just last week, 14-year-old Anthony Harrison died in a shooting at the Cedarwood Apartments.

Violence has impacted too many people in our area, taking loved ones and turning lives upside down.

Now, people in our community say it’s time for a change.

Two shootings in one week add to the violent outbreak of crime that’s taken over 150 lives in the last two years.

“We had the first killing in Cedarwood and when that happened, I said, ‘Okay, God, let’s go.’ And I called the troops. I called some men of God and women of God who really, I know care about the community. Because we got hearts for the people, you want to bring people around and get people involved who care,” said Terrell Lynn, who held the prayer vigils.

He says it’s time for a change, after the shooting at Cedarwood Apartments they gathered, praying for violence to end.

“It’s very important for these young people to see somebody from where they’re from, did the same thing that they were doing, that made it out and telling them that, hey, it’s better for you that this is not the end,” he said.

But another shooting took place at Olmstead Homes, bringing them back together and praying for the community.

“There are many that are responded to be mentors and to be established in these communities. And this isn’t just, I’m gonna pray and that’s it, we’re gonna pray, we’re gonna get a presence out here. We’re going to talk to the community, talk with the kids, work with the kids. This is not a one-time thing,” said Lynn.

They say it’s time for the community to step up.

“I invite anybody, anybody from your community, any man who wants to come and say, ‘Hey, I’m not gonna let this happen in my city, I’m not just gonna be here, sit here and let this happen without doing anything.’ I invite you to come out here and take a stand,” he said.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – School’s almost out for summer break, which means low-income families who rely on the school to feed their kids two a day will now have to figure out how to give them three.

In many states, these families can get help from the federal government paying for their groceries over the summer.

But not in Georgia and South Carolina, which opted out of continuing the summer EBT program.

That’s why LaDonna Doleman at the Master’s Table Soup Kitchen says she is worried about what this summer is going to look like.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said no earlier this year to continuing the summer EBT program. He said the program lacks basic nutrition requirements and can’t be sustained.

“That was a COVID-related benefit, extra,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said. “We’ve got to get back to doing normal business. We can’t be doing that forever.”

The program provides these low-income families with around $350 to $450 that is spread across three months.

Master’s Kitchen is already serving nearly 10,000 trays a month. But once school is out, she expects the numbers to at least double, but she’s afraid they may actually triple.  

The summer months are already hard on Golden Harvest Food Bank, which operates the soup kitchen. But this year, the problem is expected to be worse, and the food bank is calling on anyone who can lend a helping hand.

How can you help?

One way to help will come this weekend, during the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

On Saturday, letter carriers will collect non-perishable food donations from residents nationwide to help combat food insecurity and provide food items to those in need.

Letter carriers will collect the donations as they deliver mail along their usual routes.

All donations accepted locally will be distributed by Golden Harvest Food Bank and its partner agencies across its 25-county service area.

“In the battle against hunger, unity is our greatest strength,” said Amy Breitmann, president and CEO of Golden Harvest. “Partnering with the NALC through the Stamp Out Hunger food drive each year reaffirms our dedication to our families in need and amplifies our commitment to making sure no one in our community goes hungry.”

The Stamp Out Hunger campaign has collected over 1.9 billion pounds of food for families experiencing food insecurity locally and nationwide since it was first held in 1983.

For more information on recommended food items to donate visit https://goldenharvest.org/donate-food/what-to-donate/.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A vehicle caught on fire causing unknown injuries on Bobby Jones Expressway early Monday morning, according to authorities.

Richmond County dispatch says deputies were on the scene as of 7:28 a.m. on Bobby Jones Expressway at the Peach Orchard Road exit.

Dispatch says fire crews were on the way, and that there are unknown injuries at this time.

According to Georgia Department of Transportation, two of the three east bound lanes were blocked, with an anticipated end time of 8 a.m.

Traffic was backed up almost all the way to the Deans Bridge Road exit.

We got a video tip from a viewer of the accident.

We passed on ambulance just before we arrived on scene at 8:05 a.m., and the scene was cleared.

We have reached out to learn more.

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