To volunteer with Living Room, send e-mail to: volunteer@livingroomatl.org
With the issue of homelessness heavy on her heart, Sister Mary Jane Lubinski wanted to do something for those affected by HIV/AIDS in the Atlanta area. Her passion to help this community inspired her to launch Living Room.
On Saturday, Living Room hosted the Taste of Life event at Holy Cross Church in Chamblee to raise money and awareness to continue its mission in Atlanta. The organization provides housing information, placement and financial assistance agency for low-income people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to HIV/AIDS.
“Our first and foremost policy is that we have to find housing in a 24-hour time span for anyone that comes through Living Room,” said Executive Director Dolph Guldenburg. “We found that if someone reaches a seventh night on the streets, they wind up homeless for the next nine months.” The aggressive policy comes from a statistic that states 35 percent of those affected with HIV/AIDS experience at least one night of homelessness.
The event, in its third year, had more than 100 people in attendance and it raised approximately $7,000 to help with the organization’s services.
“The event allows us to get in touch with the community, let them know what (Living Room) does, and hope to spread the word,” said Pam Dorsett, the president of the HIV/AIDS Ministry at Holy Cross Church. “The adversity of homelessness affects their medical condition, and events like these can help us provide emergency housing, help with rent, utilities, and more.”
Living Room relies on its volunteers to make the organization a success for the community it serves.
“We have 25 different volunteer opportunities that involve working directly with our clients to working on special events,” added Goldenburg. “Our volunteers and their involvement really emphasize on our mission of providing our clients with housing, hope, and health.”
Since its founding in 1995, Living Room has helped more than 20,000 people, and assisted over 1,000 people in 2012.
In other news: The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation hosted its 30th annual fundraiser "Ride for Kids" on June 2 in Alpharetta and Dahlonega. Donations for the 2013 Ride totaled over $161,000 for PBTF. The Ride for Kids program is a national series of motorcycle rides that supports the work of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and its mission is to eliminate the challenges of childhood brain tumors by funding medical research and family support programs.
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