To volunteer with Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children, go to volunteer@atlantadayshelter.org.
In hopes to make women and children feel special, volunteers came to Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children on Saturday to decorate tote bags with the women and children.
Lizzie Miller, an avid volunteer, was drawn to volunteering with the shelter and now hosts monthly events through Hands on Atlanta with the shelter. “When this organization was calling for volunteers, it was the perfect fit,” said Miller. “I really wanted to help women and to give back in any way that can help make a difference in their lives.”
Miller and her volunteers have decorated umbrellas, tote bags, water bottles to not only provide them with fun activities, but also with essentials they may need.
The shelter started in 1984 after saw a need to provide daytime resources and a safe haven for homeless women and children. “We serve an average of 120-130 women and children a day,” said Executive Director Virginia Nickles. In 2012, the shelter served over 4,600 guests, of which 962 were children.
The shelter does not only provide a safe place for the women and children. With the help of the community and volunteers, the Atlanta Day Shelter provides the tools they need to overcome their homeless situation and regain self-sufficiency.
The organization offers job readiness programs, education stipends, medical care, computer training, early education and teen programs, critical needs services, and mental health counseling. Through its programs, 176 women have found employment and 154 received household kits for their new permanent residencies in 2012.
Volunteers like Miller help Atlanta Day Shelter commit to its mission. “We can use volunteers in the weekdays to come and teach computer classes, and help out with other activities around the shelter,” said Nickles. If people cannot volunteer directly with the shelter, Nickles encouraged groups to make and donate snack bags that often provide the women and children with their next meals.
Callie Keys, of Lawrenceville, volunteers frequently with the group activities. “You get to know these women, and realize that small ways like decorating tote bags really brighten their day.”
In other news: Atlanta division Kroger customers helped raise more than $382,000 in support of the United Service Organization (USO) through the grocer's annual "Round-Up" and Honoring Our Heroes campaigns. The USO is a nonprofit that supports American troops in combat, as well as military personnel on local bases, the National Guard, Guard Reserves and other personnel providing humanitarian aid.
About the Author
