Jaeleon Hawkins-Jones

Community Organizer

BIOGRAPHY

Jaeleon Hawkins-Jones is a Gwinnett County, Georgia, student and the founder of the SNAP Pause Support initiative. In late 2025, following a federal government shutdown that resulted in a nationwide suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Hawkins-Jones established the project to provide food security for local families.

Motivated by his own family's history with the SNAP program, Hawkins-Jones launched a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $3,500, more than tripling his original $1,000 goal. The funds were used to curate and distribute "SNAP Pause Support" boxes and Kroger gas cards in partnership with the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry. His efforts have been featured by Fox 5 Atlanta, 11Alive, AccessWDUN, and more prominent media outlets.

THE "SNAP PAUSE SUPPORT" INITIATIVE

Mission: To provide emergency food relief during federal funding gaps and government shutdowns.
Impact: Distributed over 60 essential food boxes and Kroger gift cards to families in Snellville and Lawrenceville.
Community Partnership: Collaborated with the Southeast Gwinnett Co-Op Ministry for logistics and distribution.
Youth Advocacy: Speaks to local media to encourage other teenagers to get involved in local civic issues.

MEDIA COVERAGE

Fox 5 Atlanta: Gwinnett teen steps up to help families
11Alive: Teen raises money for food donations as SNAP benefits paused
CBS News Atlanta: Gwinnett teen gives out food to SNAP recipients
AccessWDUN: Gwinnett Co. teen raised thousands to help families
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC): With SNAP benefits in limbo, Atlanta residents step up to help
Face2Face Africa: 16-year-old raises money for food donations in wake of SNAP benefits pause
Doc & The Block: ‘SNAP’ INTO ACTION! High Schooler Raises $2,500 to Feed Families Hit by Shutdown [WATCH]
Unheard Voices Magazine: Georgia Teen Launches SNAP Pause Support to Feed Families In His Community During Shutdown
Black News: Black Teen Raised Funds to Help Families Struggling Without SNAP Benefits During Shutdown
GoFundMe: Help Jaeleon Feed Families in Gwinnett Amid SNAP Pause

Hawkins-Jones inside a rented transport vehicle alongside 40 'SNAP Pause Support' boxes destined for local families.

Hawkins-Jones procuring inventory for the food boxes using funds raised through his community initiative.

Jaeleon Hawkins-Jones (center) distributes a 'SNAP Pause Support' box to a local family at the Southeast Gwinnett Co-op. He is accompanied by Executive Director Laura Drake (right) and a co-op assistant during the height of the 2025 federal funding lapse.

Hawkins-Jones consulting with Southeast Gwinnett Co-op Executive Director Laura Drake to finalize logistics for the drive-thru distribution of 'SNAP Pause Support' boxes.

SNAP Pause Support Box (Traditional)

Jaeleon's SNAP Pause Support boxes contain several shelf stable foods, including the following:

Cereal, Canned Vegetables, Mashed Potatoes, Pasta, Ramen, Chicken, Shelf Stable Milk, Tomato Sauce, Peanut Butter, Rice, Beans, Fruit Snacks, Granolah Bars,

SNAP Pause Support Box (Thanksgiving Edition)

A special 'Thanksgiving Edition' of the food boxes was distributed shortly before the holiday. These differed from the standard kits by incorporating seasonal items alongside typical pantry staples:

White Rice, Black-Eyed Peas, Cranberry Sauce, Green beans, Macaroni & Cheese, Stuffing, Marshmallows, Ramen, Cereal

DOCUMENTED QUOTES:

On Civic Responsibility: "When leadership fails to act, regular people like us have to step up."
On Personal Initiative: "If you see a problem in your community and you want to fix it, don’t think that you just have to sit back and wait for it to be fixed. You can act now and you can do it."
On Identifying the Need: "The first thing I thought was, how can I fix this? How can I help?"
On Modern Poverty in America: "My first reaction was 'this is horrible.' In one of the richest countries in the world, mind you over 250 years of this country's existence... this country still can't find a way to keep its Americans fed during a government gridlock."
On the Impact of Helping: "I saw the smile on their face and I thought, 'Wow, I'm actually doing something. I'm making a difference.'"
On Youth Empowerment: "I want to show other people who are my age how important it is to get involved locally... I believe that it doesn't matter how young you are, you can make a difference in this world if you actually put in the effort to try."
On Working Together: "I knew that if I wasn’t going to do it, who was?"

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