Record-Breaking Essentials Drive!
On May 5, a team of 27 volunteers spent the day at North Georgia Brick’s Cumming warehouse sorting, counting, and packing donated baby items.
Atlanta, GA – May 20, 2022 – HomeAid recognizes how challenging it can be for families and individuals to provide for their most basic needs during times of crisis and transition. HomeAid Atlanta’s 21st Annual Essentials Drive, a community-wide drive to collect essential baby items for young families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, wrapped up on May 6. This year’s record-breaking Essentials Drive collected and distributed approximately 242,130 diapers, baby wipes, and more, shattering last year’s record by more than 15,000 items.
From April 1 through May 4, the community donated diapers and baby wipes at nearly 30 Essentials Drive Drop-Off Locations including all metro Atlanta SouthState Bank branches and McMichael and Gray, PC metro Atlanta locations. Community members also donated items online via HomeAid’s baby registries at Target and Amazon. Additionally, several Atlanta companies held office-wide drives and fundraising contests that yielded approximately $8,000 for the purchase of even more Essentials Drive items.
Several Atlanta companies held office-wide drives and fundraising contests that yielded approximately $8,000 for the purchase of even more Essentials Drive items, as well as provided operational support for the event.
On May 5, a team of 27 volunteers spent the day at North Georgia Brick’s Cumming warehouse sorting, counting, and packing donated baby items. On Friday, May 6, just in time for Mother’s Day, HomeAid staff, volunteers from O’Kelley and Sorohan, Attorneys at Law, LLC, and UPS employees assisted with distribution to 20 participating nonprofits that provide housing and services for families with infants or toddlers experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
An estimated 5,500 people in metro Atlanta experience homelessness on any given night and almost 50% are women and children. According to the National Diaper Bank, an average monthly supply of diapers costs approximately $80. Many families experiencing homelessness or economic hardship must improvise to make diapers last longer, changing diapers less often, or even attempting to clean and reuse disposable diapers.
“Many, many thanks for the incredible donation of diapers and wipes from the Essentials Drive! What a blessing for the many moms and children who come to us each week. This resource will take one more thing off their shoulders as they work so courageously to overcome situations of homelessness,” said Rev. Tony Johns, Crossroads Community Ministries Executive Director.
HomeAid Atlanta’s 21st Annual Essentials Drive provided support for these metro Atlanta nonprofit organizations:
· 4Sarah, Inc.
· Atlanta Children's Shelter
· Atlanta Mission
· Ceek To Fulfill
· City of Refuge
· Community Advanced Practice Nurses, Inc
· Crossroads Community Ministries, Inc.
· Family Promise of Hall County
· Forsyth County Family Haven, Inc.
· Gateway House, Inc.
· Helping Mamas, Inc.
· Nicholas House Inc
· Our House, Inc.
· Phoenix Pass Inc.
· Rainbow Village
· Solomon's Temple Foundation
· The Drake House
· The Salvation Army Red Shield Services
· The Salvation Army - Haven Atlanta
· Wellroot Family Services
HomeAid Atlanta is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001, with a mission to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education. HomeAid builds, renovates, and maintains facilities for nonprofits serving people experiencing homelessness. HomeAid has completed over 170 construction projects at locations for victims of domestic violence, teen mothers, veterans and more, utilizing connections with building industry professionals and community organizations. HomeAid also provides essential items like diapers, wipes, and hygiene products to those affected by homelessness. HomeAid is the designated charity of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. Learn more at www.homeaidatlanta.org.