Maureen McGladrigan Kornowa, the director of the nonprofit North Gwinnett Cooperative, unwittingly unleashed a avalanche of giving to help a woman and her son who were living in a bare apartment by posting the situation on her Facebook page.

The woman came Tuesday to the co-op for food, and two volunteers drove the woman back to her apartment. When they saw the little family was living with nothing, they came back and immediately said something had to be done.

“My first thought was I have 700 families coming in next week for Christmas meals,” Kornowa said. “But I agreed to put out a Facebook post and see what happened.”

What happened was an outpouring of giving that paid the rent through January, and furniture that will be delivered on Saturday morning, and more surprises are coming.

“This had the hand of God written all over it and a true Christmas story of kindness and giving to help a stranger,” Kornowa said.

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Managing Partner at Atlantica Properties, Darion Dunn (center) talks with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens during a tour following the ribbon cutting of Waterworks Village as part of the third phase of the city’s Rapid Housing Initiative on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
(Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez