Below is a sampling of programs and projects we serve in Atlanta. Although your group may not serve in these exact projects, this will give you an idea of what your group can expect on your trip to Atlanta.
Environment
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Community Gardens bring together neighbors and help people supplement their foodsupply with fruits and vegetables they grow themselves. DOOR volunteers often help maintain some of the community gardens in Atlanta.
"Higher income groups have always had access to nature at beach houses, lake cabins, mountain chalets, on vacations - or in urban settings at golf courses or large gardens. Parks allow the rest of society that contact as well. " - Enrique Penalosa. However, Atlanta continues to cut funding for the maintenance of public spaces, so many parks utilize volunteers to help protect natural spaces for the use of all people in the city. DOOR volunteers often help mulch, prune, plant, or pick up trash in City of Atlanta parks.
A local community garden teaches environmental awareness to diverse local students through hands-on gardening and outdoor education programs. By teaching about wellness, teamwork, and conversation, they hope to empower youth to take charge of their own health, as well as that of the environment and become the next generation of environmental stewards. DOOR volunteers will tend the garden.
Food
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12.6% of Georgia households experience low food security, which means they don't have access to enough food for an active, healthy life. DOOR volunteers often help agencies sort food donations that are redistributed to charities around north Georgia.
A small soup kitchen serves 30-40 people on a daily basis and has a nationally recognized substance abuse treatment program. DOOR volunteers help to prepare the meal and serve as waiters and waitresses to the clients during the meal hour.
A ministry headquartered in Vine city provides benevolent outreach to the Last, Lost and Least of inner-city Atlanta. Volunteers will help in sorting and staging hygiene and food items that will be distributed to other faith-based ministries, as well as helping with their children's camp and food program for the homeless.
A large soup kitchen in downtown Atlanta serves approximately 300 people per day. Volunteers help to prepare the serving line for the meal and help to serve the guests.
What happens when those in Atlanta cannot afford proper nutrition, some are too sick to prepare their own meals. and thousands of others are at risk for chronic disease simply because of their diet? A non-profit organization utilizes volunteers to pack and deliver 3000 meals a day to homebound individuals. DOOR volunteers often deliver meals in the morning and package meals for the next day in the afternoon.
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Over 250 men, women and children are provided emergency shelter, and over 700 men and women receive drug and alcohol rehabilitation and transitional housing at one of Atlanta's largest Christian mission organizations. DOOR volunteers help serve meals, clean shelters and often get to sit in on case management sessions to learn more about the process of helping someone move to a more stable living situation.
Often older adults on fixed income have a hard time maintaining their independence because they are unable to care for or live in their own house. By providing affordable residential and assisted living facilities, the Disciples of Christ denomination is addressing this need in Atlanta. DOOR Volunteers do small tasks for residents such as cleaning out closets, flipping mattresses and baking cookies, as well as providing friendly visits to seniors who are looking for a chat.
Compelled by faith in Jesus Christ and God's call to "do Justice," one congregation stands with our neighbors in the heart of the city to respond to basic human needs of the poor and to advocate for public and corporate policies that reflect our human understanding of God's Vision of a just society. DOOR volunteers spend time with homeless guests providing food and playing board games as they wait for appointments.
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A transitional housing facility for women and children in Decatur, Georgia provides a continuum of services to homeless and at-risk families to enable them to become self-sufficient. DOOR volunteers will help clean the transitional shelter once a week.
Finding employment is a daunting task for anyone, but when you're homeless its an even bigger challenge. Without access to telephones, a mailing address, and transportation assistance, a job search is impossible. Additionally with a shower, clean clothes, and a full stomach, a successful job interview is unlikely. Employment readiness programs provide all the resources a homeless person needs to plan and carry out a successful job search. DOOR volunteers often help with administrative tasks and donation sorting for one of the Employment readiness programs in Atlanta.
Homeless individuals and families who are moving into their own place don't have furniture or housewares. Homeless families would finally move into an apartment but be forced to sleep and eat of the floor because they didn't have the basic household items. A non-profit in Atlanta addressed this need. DOOR volunteers often help sort donations & straighten the thrift store and kids area to make it easier for clients to shop.
A methodist ministry helps low-income older adults stay in the own home. By performing no cost home repairs seniors maintain independence, dignity and safety. For many of their clients, the only alternatives are to sell the home they worked so hard to acquire- or live in dangerous conditions. DOOR volunteers often help paint, take care of lawns, or do minor repairs.
Kids
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About 2,500 children wake up in Atlanta each morning with no place to call home. DOOR volunteers often serve in day care programs for homeless children and spend time one on one with children who are experiencing a stressful time in their lives.
A multi-cultural congregation with both English and Spanish speaking services has an annual Vacation Bible School where Hispanic and African-American children from the neighborhood participate. DOOR volunteers will help with the Vacation Bible School by doing activities with the kids and helping with set up and clean up.
Women and children make up almost half of the homeless population of Atlanta. It is especially dangerous for this population to be sleeping on the streets at night. One of several shelters specifically for women and children, this facility has 125 emergency beds and 135 beds for those who suffer from addiction. DOOR volunteers work with the children of residents in the various classrooms and will help assist with a variety of projects around the building.
Health
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One organization in the Peoplestown neighborhood seeks to diminish poverty and its broader consequences by strengthening individuals, families and the Peoplestown community through education, assistance, and social action.
DOOR volunteers often work in their kids camp, interact with the seniors by providing meals or playing games, or do projects around the facility.
What happens when a family member becomes disabled but they don't have the funds for mobility aids or daily living devices? A ministry in Stone Mountain has stepped up to answer the question and provide mobility equipment for those who need it across the state of Georgia. DOOR volunteers often help repair wheelchairs, sort donations, build wheelchair ramps, or work in their thrift store.
60% of a small church in east Atlanta lives with mental illness. In response to the decrease in day programs for those with disabilities, the church provides activities. Every Tuesday and Thursday, 80-125 people eat together and participate in programs such as painting, ceramics, weaving, woodworking, gardening, and games. DOOR volunteers participate in all aspects of the Day Program.
Caring for a person with a disability requires a full-time commitment leaving many caregivers exhausted and in need of a little "R&R." They often seek solace in a ministry in Clayton County that offers short-term relief. DOOR volunteers often help by providing assistance with respite care or helping in a thrift store that enables the ministry to offer all of their services free of charge.
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Each year thousands of patients in the economically developing world cannot receive medical aid because no resources exist. While many suffer from lack of health care, US hospitalsdiscard millions of dollars worth of medical supplies they can no longer use. A local non-profit provides collection barrels at hospitals and then sorts and catalogs the donations to be ordered by hospitals in developing areas. DOOR volunteers help sort donations for entry into the database.
Although Midtown Atlanta is often seen as a hip and popular place for young people to live, there are many working poor in the area who need assistance to prevent hunger and homelessness during times of crisis. An inter-faith organization headquartered in a Methodist church provides this assistance. DOOR volunteers will help sort donations in the Center's clothes closet & will often get to see a case management session as well.
Additional Atlanta Information
What your group will do in Atlanta