Doing Good: Nonprofit helps Cobb families gain independence


To volunteer with the Center for Family Resources, go to www.thecfr.org

For 55 years, a nonprofit in Cobb County has been stabilizing and empowering families to become self-sufficient and independent. When it began, the now Center for Family Resources worked tirelessly to help meet the emergency needs of Cobb citizens and over time, shifted its focus to break the cycle of poverty.

CFR identified and tackled the barriers such as affordable transportation, childcare and housing, as well as a lack of education and training to secure and maintain employ­ment. It developed various programs that “helped stabilize families by helping to pay rent to keep them in their own homes while addressing the underlying reasons they found themselves in trouble,” said CEO Jeri Barr.

The organization offers direct services, housing, education and employment, intake hours and Thanks for Giving, a Thanksgiving event for families it serves.

To keep its efforts impactful, over 500 guests came together on Feb. 22 for the Red Carpet Gala and raised over $330,000 for the organization and its programs.

“Our financial assistance ranges from $700 to $4,000 per family, so we will be able to help more than 150 families with the monies raised from the event,” added Barr.

The families achieve success also through the help of volunteers who have worked in the food pantry, taught life skills, helped with GED courses and coached employment skills to the people that CFR serves.

Budgeting classes were a favorite of one participant who said the overall experience helped her gain her independence back. “This is so important to the community because it helps individuals gain back their independence, and puts support in place so they can be successful,” said Sabrina Brundage.

In its work, CFR has helped more than 900,000 clients, serving more than 18,000 people each year. In the past year, it also graduated 50 GED students and helped over 100 people receive job coaching and assistance.

In other news: It's The Journey Inc. awarded grants on March 2 totaling $820,000 to 28 breast cancer programs across Georgia. The producer of the Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer provides grants annually for Georgia programs that focus on breast cancer screening, early detection, genetic counseling, and wellness.