Augusta, GA
Nonprofits see rise in food insecurity in Augusta area
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Some families are choosing between paying a bill or putting food on their table.
The United States Department of Agriculture says the price for food-at-home was 5% higher in 2023 than in 2022, breaking the 20-year level for food price inflation at 2.5%.
In Augusta, Master’s Table Soup Kitchen is seeing a growing need every passing month. Every day hundreds of people line up for a warm meal outside of the Master’s Table Soup Kitchen.
“The food insecurity, right now, to me, it’s very scary. We are seeing a high in hunger and feeding trays. Then on the opposite end, our donations are very low,” said manager LaDonna Doleman.
As the line grows longer, leaders say yearly totals of trays served are now becoming monthly totals.
“The food prices for eggs and bread now are extreme. So now that you’re going in the grocery store a lot more families are now choosing and picking what is mandatory and what is not,” said Doleman.
In 2018, the soup kitchen served 6,000 trays in a 12-month period.
Within the first month of 2024, Doleman says they served more than 9,000 trays.
“The beginning of this year, we started out with 9,053 trays that we did for the month of January,” said Doleman.
But what they need the most, Doleman said can’t be found at the soup kitchen — it’s in the community
“For 2024, my word is help. We need help. We need those donations. We need those volunteer times,” said Doleman.
A place that forever changes lives just like Barbie Izquierdo.
“My mom was food insecure with myself and my brother. When I had children, unfortunately, I sort of fell into the same thing. When there are spaces like this, where community members can come together and feel that camaraderie, I think it’s something that definitely does help the morale of having to deal with being food insecure,” said Izquierdo.
If you would like to help, you can drop items off at the soup kitchen, donate money, or sign up here to help serve. Doleman says any one of these things will help.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
TikToker cleans father’s hoarded house – and goes viral
Madison Lovelle posts videos online while going through and cleaning her childhood home after her father died.
Housing costs are often the biggest Georgians deal with every month, so it’s important to try and save money where possible.
Last week, WalletHub released its ranking of the most affordable cities to buy a home. It analyzed 300 cities based on 10 metrics, with the biggest weight going to housing affordability and cost per square foot.
Best city to buy a home in Georgia?
Augusta ranked the highest among Georgia cities, ranking 8th overall and 3rd best in the midsized cities list.
Augusta real estate prices
According to Zillow, as of March, the median list price for a house in Georgia is $205,000 with a median sale price of $187,283. About 57% of sales are under the list price.
The average rent, as of April, is $1,365 per month.
Augusta cost of living
The MIT Living Wage Calculator reports the hourly pay needed to support yourself and/or your family, assuming full-time employment. For Richmond County (Augusta), it’s $20.31 for one adult, $28.16 for a two-adult household with one working, and $14.08 for a two-adult household with both working.
Children obviously increase the wage needed. Depending on how many adults are working, the necessary pay figures may increase by up to $13 for just one child, with more needed for additional children.
Worst city to buy a home in Georgia?
The Georgia city with the lowest ranking on the list overall was Sandy Springs. However, with 300 cities, landing at No. 151 doesn’t make it nearly the worst in the nation. Sandy Springs was No. 56 on the small cities list.
What are the best cities to buy a home in US?
- Flint, MI
- Detroit, MI
- Surprise, AZ
- Yuma, AZ
- Akron, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Memphis, TN
- Augusta, GA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Cleveland, OH
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Senate candidate Derek Dooley made several visits to the area on Friday.
Dooley had stops in both Lincolnton and Augusta on May 29 and was joined by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for his “Georgia First” tour. He spoke about one of the issues he finds in politics.
“But the other piece of it is the corruption. People sit on these committees. They have access to information that none of us have. And then you look up 2 or 3 years down the road and their wealth is just skyrocketing,” Dooley said. “You’re outperforming every investor out there. And I think it’s shameful. I think it erodes trust. It’s something that I will never do.”
“Politicians were out there getting paid. They were coming back home. They’re raising money and campaigning while the government shut down,” Kemp said. “What Derek’s saying, if he’s up there, we’re not going to allow legislators to get paid. We’re going to take away their benefits. That way, you won’t ever have another shutdown again.”
Dooley is facing Congressman Mike Collins in a runoff for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
The winner of the Republican nomination will face incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A man has been arrested after he was accused of hitting two women at Piedmont Hospital in Augusta.
The incident happened on May 14 around 12 a.m.
According to arrest warrants, Bruce Bland struck one victim with a closed hand several times in the face. Bland also threw a garbage can at the victim, hitting her in the head.
The warrant states the victim suffered a bruise on her face.
Bland also hit another victim with a closed hand on her mouth, according to the warrants. She suffered swelling and a bruise on her mouth.
Bland is charged with battery and simple battery, according to the warrants. Both charges are misdemeanors.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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