Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association

05/23/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/23/2022 10:24

HOMEAID ESSENTIALS DRIVE HELPS FAMILIES IN NEED

23 MayHOMEAID ESSENTIALS DRIVE HELPS FAMILIES IN NEED

Posted at 12:16hin Community Service, Newsby Rachel Hodge
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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 drive collected and distributed approximately 242,130 diapers, baby wipes, and other supplies, shattering last year's record by more than 15,000 items.

From April 1 through May 4, GAHBA members and others from the local community collected diapers and baby wipes at nearly 30 Essentials Drive drop-off locations, including all metro Atlanta SouthState Bank branches and McMichael & Gray metro Atlanta offices. 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 supplies to contribute to the 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. On Friday, May 6, just in time for Mother's Day, HomeAid staff, volunteers from O'Kelley & Sorohan, and UPS employees assisted with distribution to 20 participating non-profit organizations 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 is the designated charity of the GAHBA. For more information on the Essentials Drive and other ways HomeAid helps the local community, visit www.homeaidatlanta.org.

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