For more information on FCS Urban Ministries, go to www.fcsministries.org
It is important to Matt McConnell, CEO of Intradiem, to fulfill his company’s mission to give back to the community that it serves. McConnell and fellow employees of the Alpharetta-based technology company gave back to FCS Urban Ministries through High Tech Ministries’ Serve@Work projects helping to revitalize a South Atlanta neighborhood about a mile south of Turner Field.
Between Oct. 15- 17, employees of Intradiem got together to help renovate a neighborhood bike shop, organize the recently renovated thrift shop, create games for the upcoming Treat Street holiday event, and landscape the surrounding grounds in Atlanta.
“These projects are meaningful work to not only us who are volunteering our time, but to those who it will serve,” said McConnell. “The overall community wins when we all invest in it.” The company has worked with FCS Urban Ministries since May 2012 and worked on three projects with the nonprofit.
Through the Serve@Work initiative, FCS Ministries received help and support to achieve their goals. “We work primarily in one neighborhood at a time and do a comprehensive restoration to make a community healthy,” said Jeff Delp, executive director of FCS Urban Ministries.
The organization has been working in the current neighborhood for the past four years.
The ministries work with the community they revitalize to combat housing, economic development and more. Through employing local residents in the coffee shop and thrift store, the nonprofit lays ground work to help 1,000 families including local youth through the South Atlanta Bike Shop.
Among the many projects, Intradiem’s employees helped to renovate the bike shop that also serves as youth development program. The kids ages 11-18 work at the bike shop earning not only mechanical skills, but also leadership skills and work ethic. They also get a bicycle.
“Intradiem worked with us on planning, brought all tools and materials needed for the project and executed it,” said Founding Director and Mechanic Andrej Ciho. “When the kids saw the difference in the bike shop, it communicated very clearly to the youth and the whole community that they are worth investing in.”
In 2013, employees of Intradiem also prepared lunches for children who don’t have access to school-provided meals in the summer, and donated 5,000 lbs of food to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
“Personally, I believe when you work to give back to your community, the world opens up for you,” added McConnell. “And through Intradiem, we can show that companies can have success and significance at the same time.”
In other news: RA Sushi's first-ever "Foodies Show Heart" charity sushi-rolling competition helped raise $820 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The charity sushi-rolling competition between some of Atlanta's top food bloggers and media was held on Oct. 24, and the winning roll was made by Chris Watkins from the foodie blog eat.drink.repeat. The winning roll was added to the menu for 30 days, and a portion of proceeds from the sale of the sushi roll benefitted Watkin's charity of choice.
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