M a r c h 1 9 , 2 0 2 6 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 1 , N o . 1 2
‘A labor of love’ Food pantry opens in East Roswell By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
From left, Frankie Elliott, Atlanta Realtors Political Action Committee governmental affairs director; Roswell Community Development Director Jeannie Peyton, Alpharetta Community Development Director Kathi Cook and Johns Creek Community Development Director Ben Song appear at a March 11 town hall.
North Fulton city planners navigate density, housing By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — North Fulton County cities navigate a complex web of often disparate interests in facilitating the next generation of development, city planners said at a March 11 town hall. Community development directors from Roswell, Johns Creek and Alpharetta spoke to a group of about 50 for more than an hour at River Landing in Roswell. Hosted by the Atlanta Realtors Political Action Committee, the event featured Johns Creek’s Ben Song, Alpharetta’s Kathi Cook and Roswell’s Jeannie Peyton. The North Atlanta area has become a focal
point for development, the three community development directors said. That activity has sometimes posed tricky dilemmas to city planners. In particular, affordable housing has required planners to carefully balance competing interests. Developers often look to density to make projects profitable, which can bring additional residents and traffic to areas. Density alone is not necessary detrimental, but Cook said officials must consider the surrounding community when considering how dense a project should be.
See FULTON, Page 24
ROSWELL, Ga. — North Fulton Community Charities opened its first satellite food pantry at Bridge to Grace Church in East Roswell, furthering the nonprofit’s mission to ease hardship and foster financial stability. A crowd of church volunteers, donors and community leaders gathered with members of the charity to celebrate the March 11 ribbon cutting at the food pantry and garden at 2385 Holcomb Bridge Road. The East Roswell food pantry will provide immediate relief to around 100 families each week. By opening a separate location, NFCC has decreased travel times for those seeking financial relief. In 2025, the charity served nearly 10,000 people and reached more than 3,700 households through its main food pantry on Elkins Road. Food was provided to an average of 210 families each day. “The need is growing,” NFCC’s Senior Manager of Brand Strategy Blaine McCarty said. “So, we have to rise to the occasion to meet that need.”
See PANTRY, Page 22
HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA
Pastor Dave Bonselaar of Bridge to Grace Church speaks at the ribbon cutting for the new food pantry opening as a joint project between the church and North Fulton Community Charities.