Four years ago, when Katie Bashor picked up her mother at the airport, she was juggling to get her mother who was in a wheelchair, her bags, and a walker out of the door.
At the same time, a TSA agent offered her help, and confidently told her, “Anything for you, Katie.” Surprised, Bashor asked how the agent knew her name, and he told her that he stayed and received assistance at the Central Night Shelter almost eight years ago, where Bashor volunteers as a director.
“I couldn't even recognize him!” said Bashor, excitedly. “He has a job, a place to live, and is doing well. When you hear stories such as this, you feel good to know that the community’s work is making a difference.”
Last Saturday, the Hands Around The Hill 5K raised $9,000 to help Central Night Shelter and Central Outreach and Advocacy Center combat homelessness around Capitol Hill.
“Hands on The Hill started as a way to help organizations in this area which are in immediate need,” said Jackie Stephenson, the nonprofit’s secretary. “All the funds that are raised through [Hands on The Hill’s] various benefits go towards outreach programs that help the homeless population and neighborhoods on Capitol Hill.”
With the highest concentration in downtown, there are approximately 22,000 homeless people in Atlanta. At the same time, there are only 3,000 shelter beds.
The winter emergency shelter helps around 100 men between November and March and provides medical care, foot clinics, and hot meals. Yearly, the outreach and advocacy center helps close to 8,000 homeless individuals and families with resources such as job training, literacy training, permanent housing, and more.
Central Night Shelter and Central Outreach and Advocacy Center are kept active completely by volunteers. The organizations rely on people to come and cook meals, donate essential items, or spend time at shelter.
Hands Around The Hill, also completely volunteer-based, hopes people get involved to organize and host fundraisers, be active on the board, and spread the mission to help the area around Capitol Hill.
“It does become our responsibility to take care of our community,” added Bashor, an elementary school teacher. “When you invest in your community, you can make a positive impact.”
To volunteer with Hands Around The Hill, Central Night Shelter, or Central Outreach and Advocacy Center, visit www.handsaroundthehill.com, www.centralshelter.org, and www.centraloutreachandadvocacy.org
In Other News: The first annual Eats and Beats event held on May 7 at The Buckhead Theater raised over $20,000 for Children of Conservation. The nonprofit works to protect endangered animals and provide scholarships for wildlife sanctuary workers' children.
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