THE CITIZEN BLOG
THE CITIZEN BLOG
Vaccine Volunteers needed to boost school re-opening
In order to vaccinate thousands of APS educators, APS will need hundreds of volunteers—both medical professionals who will be able to administer the vaccine as well as non-medical volunteers to help staff the events.
With yesterday’s news announcing pre-K-12 educators and school staff to be eligible to receive the vaccine starting March 8, 2021, there is now a sense of urgency around staffing these vaccination events with volunteers. Vaccinating as many staff members as possible will be critical for continuing to open schools safely.
In order to vaccinate thousands of Atlanta Public Schools (APS) educators and staff, APS will need hundreds of volunteers—both medical professionals who will be able to administer the vaccine as well as non-medical volunteers to help staff the events.
“The COVID 19 pandemic has highlighted what educators have known for decades: schools are critical centers of our community and the heartbeat of our ecosystem. Therefore, we are eager to get all of our students and staff back in schools safely and vaccinating all of our educators is the pathway to achieve that goal. As such, we are grateful to any and all medical and non-medical volunteers who will help us with our vaccination events!” ”
GET STARTED!
If you are a medical professional and are willing to help vaccinate APS educators, please consider signing up to volunteer! If you’re not sure if you have the authority to vaccinate, click here to review the Georgia Department of Public Health’s list of healthcare professionals who are authorized to administer vaccinations.
If you are not a medical professional, your help is still needed to serve at the events.
All volunteers must pre-register with the Georgia Department of Public health to volunteer. Don’t wait! With March 8, approaching fast, get started now:
Register at https://servga.gov/ with the organization: Fulton County, Medical Reserve Corps. See below for step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.
Once registered through the state, sign up for a volunteer role for the Atlanta Public School events here.
Specific event/shift dates and times will be emailed to you including volunteer details and more information once confirmed. Anticipated events will likely take place on the weekends. Lunch will be provided for volunteers.
Sign up through the Georgia Department of Public Health
Here’s a quick step-by-step overview to getting signed up. It’s easy and will only take a few minutes to complete your registration.
Visit https://servga.gov and click “Register Now”
At the top section under Volunteer Opportunities click the box for option 2. This will populate a new dropdown for you to choose your organization.
Select your county and click the organization dropdown. Choose “Fulton County Medical Reserve Corps”
Fill out the rest of the information on the page: name, email, etc. to create your profile and click Next at the bottom of the page.
Nice job, you’re almost done!
One the next page click “My Profile” in the top left.
Go through the 8 sections to add the required information to complete your profile. Required information will be marked with an * and a green check mark will appear when each step is finished.
Once this is complete go to your inbox and read the message from Fulton County Medical Reserve Corps.
Follow the instructions about any additional forms you need to complete
Congrats, you’re now eligible and ready to volunteer!
**Don’t forget to sign up for a shift with APS once you’ve registered with DPH.
DISCO Supply Drive
In response to the impact of COVID-19, Disco is an Olympic themed, team-based virtual experience created for students in grades 3-5 to engage in fun and interactive activities while at-home. Our goal is to beat isolation in the virtual education space and provide a safe space for students.
During these sessions, students will have the opportunity to do educational activities, connect with fellow classmates, and create a space of team comradery and creativity. The supplies are essential as they allow our students to complete the weekly activities and broaden their knowledge around important themes such as math, financial literacy, STEAM, history, and other focus areas. Traditionally, this program is known as Discovery when in-person.
How it Works
Click here to review the list of items needed
Order new items with the quantity and retailer of your choice
Upon checkout, have the items shipped to:
Hands On Atlanta
Attn: Tasia Limonius
600 Means Street, Ste. 100
Atlanta, GA 30318
thank you for supporting our disco partner schools!!
Disco’s Title 1 Partner Schools:
Brookview Elementary School
Clay-Harmony Leland Elementary School
Harper Archer Elementary School
The Kindezi School at Old Fourth Ward
The Kindezi School West
Parklane Elementary School
Scott Elementary School
Usher Collier Elementary
Basic Materials Needed
300+ Small Clear bags
300+ Scotch Tape Rolls
300+ Plastic Jars
25 Boxes of Craft Sticks
25 Bags of Pom-Poms for Crafts
10 Large Bags of Googly Eyes for Crafts
300+ Boxes of Crayons (24 total)
300+ Boxes of Thin Markers (10 total)
10 Large boxes of Pencils (150 count)
300+ Boxes of Colored Pencils (12 count)
300 Elmer’s Glue Sticks
300 Bottles of Elmer’s Liquid Glue
300 Olympic themed metals
300 Composition Books
300 Folders
25 Boxes of Straws
25 Boxes of Small Sandwich Bags
25 Packs of Construction Paper
25 Packs of Scissors (300 total)
10 Balls of Yarn
10 Packs of Pipe Cleaners
10 Cases of Printer Paper
Stickers
Hands On Atlanta Week Hopes to Inspire Unity Across Metro Atlanta
Hands On Atlanta Week will feature over 200 unique and meaningful ways Atlantans can unite in service from Oct. 3-10, 2020. Participants can expect traditional in-person volunteer projects, engaging virtual projects and more during Atlanta’s largest week of service.
Hands On Atlanta will deliver seven days of in-person and virtual service opportunities for people in metro Atlanta to unite in support of Covid-19 relief efforts, food assistance, racial equity, voter access and more.
ATLANTA, GA – Hands On Atlanta Week will feature over 200 unique and meaningful ways Atlantans can unite in service from Oct. 3-10, 2020. Participants can expect traditional in-person volunteer projects, engaging virtual projects and more during Atlanta’s largest week of service.
Atlantans will be encouraged to host and attend virtual “Bridging the Racial Divide” Civic Dinner conversations, attend the virtual Atlanta Black Theater Festival and participate in The Race: A virtual & digital half marathon that supports black-owned businesses, neighborhoods, and charities. In an effort to increase voter accessibility and turnout, Hands On Atlanta has partnered with the ACLU of Georgia, Vote Early Day, and other nonpartisan organizations to recruit poll workers and raise awareness for early voting options. Technologists and creatives can join 48in48’s global hack-a-thon for good to build over 48 websites for 48+ nonprofits in 48 hours! These are just a few of the ways Atlantans can participate in Hands On Atlanta Week.
“2020 has been a challenging year for everyone in Atlanta, but the shining light across our community has been the thousands of changemakers stepping up to help their neighbors in need. Hands On Atlanta Week will give anyone and everyone a way to discover new, safe, and unifying ways to do something good,” said Jay Cranman, Hands On Atlanta President and CEO.
Hands On Atlanta Week will also focus on Covid-19 relief and food insecurity – from in-person food distributions and meal packing with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to letter-writing campaigns for healthcare workers. Sponsor, Coca-Cola USA, will join the fight against food insecurity and support several virtual projects throughout the week.
“Throughout our 134-year history, Coca-Cola has always been there to make a difference in local communities,” said Alba Baylin, Vice President of Community and Stakeholder Relations, Coca-Cola North America. “Serving communities in need has never been more important than right now. That's why we're pleased to support Hands On Atlanta Week, which will truly make a difference for so many people throughout Atlanta.”
Hands On Atlanta Week will take place from Saturday, Oct. 3 through Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. To get your company or organization involved, or to serve with your family and friends, visit www.handsonatlanta.org/week
Spread Kindness, Not the Virus
Looking for a way to let your neighbors know you can help, if they need you? We’ve put together some “Kindness Cards” to help you spread kindness during the pandemic by reaching out and offering support to friends and neighbors.
These are especially helpful if you know any older or isolated individuals. You can make them feel supported, safe, and less lonely during self-quarantine by offering support via our “Kindness Cards”.
How it Works
Print Cards
Download greeting card template
Fill out with your information
Send to neighbors or friends by mail, dropping off, or via email
Digital Cards
Download the social media card (it’s like a photo)
Post it on your favorite social platform (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)
Write a brief explanation of how/why you’re offering help and include contact details - “Send me a private or direct message” or “Comment on this post with how I can help”
Click post!
Virtually Volunteer with Atlanta Habitat
Learn how you can virtually volunteer with Atlanta Habitat and support their build operations and homebuyers remotely.
Atlanta Habitat recently announced that they are pausing any in-person or on-site volunteering opportunities. However, there are a number of ways that you can support their build operations and homebuyers remotely.
Check out their list of virtual volunteer opportunities below, and if you have any questions or want to learn more, contact their Sr. Volunteer Manager. Happy volunteering!
Write a letter of support to a new Atlanta Habitat homebuyer.
Our homebuyers would love to hear from you! Write a handwritten letter or email of support and send it to a new Atlanta Habitat homebuyer.
Complete this Volunteer Preference form to be paired with a current homebuyer.
Sign a virtual beam for a new Atlanta Habitat homebuyer as part of the Beams of Hope campaign.
Complete this Volunteer Preference form to be paired with a current homebuyer.
Build your own hands-on project at home for an Atlanta Habitat homebuyer.
Complete a small craft project at home (building templates available) and donate it to a new Atlanta Habitat homebuyer or the ReStore. Kids can help too! Projects ideas include:
Any other small building projects you can imagine (must easily fit in a car).
Complete this Volunteer Preference form to be paired with a current homebuyer.
Learn new construction skills virtually and complete your own DIY home maintenance project.
Learn a new skill from one of our House Leaders or Skilled Supervisors virtually.
Complete your own maintenance project at home. Don’t forget to share your handiwork with other Atlanta Habitat volunteers by tagging photos or video of your project on social media with #atlantahabitatathome.
Atlanta Habitat Home Maintenance Instructional Videos
Help students with their Scholarship Research Process
The Scholarship Academy (TSA), is a nonprofit founded by a recipient of over $200,000 in scholarships, teaches low- income and first-generation high school students how to create realistic college funding strategies.
Through in-school curriculum modules, financial aid counselor trainings, and access to an innovative scholarship planning platform, The Virtual Scholarship Center, we connect students to local/state-based scholarship resources that enable them to pursue debt-free degrees.
How it Works
Students sign up for virtual office hours via their virtual scholarship center account
Based on availability and interest, volunteers (you) will help students:
Understand their Financial Award Letter
Identify additional private aid
Re-negotiate their financial aid packages
Edit scholarship essays
Atlanta, we hear you.
Thousands of you have taken to the streets to peacefully protest. Thank you. Thank you for leading, for standing up and for saying enough is enough. We hear you and we march with you in solidarity, advocating for racial justice and to end the brutality and violence against the Black community. More simply put, we believe black lives matter.
We’ve been listening.
Mayor Bottoms, we hear you. Killer Mike, we hear you. John Lewis, we hear you.
Atlanta, we hear you.
Thousands of you have taken to the streets to peacefully protest. Thank you. Thank you for leading, for standing up and for saying enough is enough. We hear you and we march with you in solidarity, advocating for racial justice and the end to violence against the Black community. More simply put, we believe black lives matter.
In the coming days and weeks, the protests will end and the news cycle will change. But the movement must continue. It will take more listening and more action if we are to overcome systemic racism and realize our vision for Atlanta – to become the most equitable and engaged community in the world.
Keep working.
For the 5,000+ annual volunteer projects across metro Atlanta, where volunteers like you, support organizations with Black leadership, like A.G.Rhodes, First African Community Development Corporation (FACDC), Grace Community Fellowship, New Life, Reflections of Trinity, Salem Missionary Baptist Church Community Services, Star-C, SWEEAC, Truly Living Well, and the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance.
For the commitment and sacrifice from our AmeriCorps members who are in Title 1 schools mentoring, coaching and leading elementary students. For the volunteers who show up every Saturday during the school year to support students in our Discovery program. For the work of our Civic Fellows who advocate for our work and directly support our partner nonprofits. For fighting food insecurity with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and supporting our city's most vulnerable alongside Partners for Home. For our Covid-19 relief efforts, and so much more.
Our volunteers [you] represent the best of Atlanta. Through your actions, you can glimpse Dr. King’s beloved community beginning to take shape. You're doing this work every day.
Keep doing it.
““The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” ”
Putting the Social in Social Distancing
We all know Facetime is great, especially during group chats when you’re all koala’s. Facebook and Instagram Live are also good ways to kill a few hours with friends and strangers. Google Hangouts are a fun way to connect with friends and fam too. To keep things fresh, we went exploring to find some other things you can do to stay social while keeping your distance. Here are a few fun apps and things to try to keep the good times rollin’.
Look, we’re going to have some fun with this post, but let’s be real for a second. Social distancing is critical at keeping our community and those most vulnerable safe. Avoid leaving the house, definitely avoid groups large than 10, keep a safe 6’ away from folks if you do have to venture out, and if you must Beltline, please don’t walk in herds and try hopping over to the southside or westside trail for some solo adventuring. The Eastside Trail is nobody’s friend right now.
We all know Facetime is great, especially during group chats when you’re all koala’s. Facebook and Instagram Live are also good ways to kill a few hours with friends and strangers. Google Hangouts are a fun way to connect with friends and fam too.
To keep things fresh, we went exploring to find some other things you can do to stay social while keeping your distance. Here are a few fun apps and things to try to keep the good times rollin’.
House Party
Not your mom’s Facetime. House Party is a group video chat app with integrated games like Heads Up, Pictionary, trivia, and a “Cards Against Humanity” look-a-like called Chips and Guac. It’s fun, perfect for happy hour hangs.
Zoom
While you’ve surely been using Zoom all day for work calls and to connect with your teams, don’t forget to have some fun with it. Play with the virtual background and chat room settings. Since everyone has now graduated Zoom University, there’s no “how does this thing work” and you can get straight to catching up with a sure bet, quality stream.
Stream Live Concerts
Yes, it’s awful and not fair that the spring festival season has been cancelled and every show you wanted to catch has been postponed. Lucky for you, Billboard released this awesome (updated daily) list of concerts you can stream. Plus, a bunch of musicians are getting in on the action, like Jack White’s Third Man Records, performing live shows everyday at noon!
Volunteer from Your Couch
We recently launched some really fun and easy ways you can help those in need, without leaving the house. Volunteering is a perfect cure to help stay social because it almost always involves people helping people, in real-time. Take Be My Eyes or Tarjimly for example, you can see for the visually impaired or translate for those who need language support via live chats.
Play Video Games
Spoken like a true gaming novice, if you have Xbox Live or Nintendo Switch, you can play with friends, make new friends, and probably shoot some cartoon bad guys or leave a banana on the road for Mario to wipe out on.
Join a Virtual Gym and Workout from Home
Working out or going for a run is a great way to shake the stress of quarantining, but doing it alone? Boring. Get swol with strangers and coaches using apps like Nike’s Run Club, Aaptiv, or Peloton Digital (free for 3 months).
Host a virtual Civic Dinner
Dinner dates are great. Dinner dates that bring friends together to raise awareness to serious community challenges and talk through potential solutions? That’s a Civic Dinner date. Put yours on their calendar, invite your friends and grab your iPad or laptop for a meaningful, fun conversation.
Netflix Party
Netflix Party is a new way to watch Netflix with your friends online. Netflix Party synchronizes video playback and adds group chat to your favorite Netflix shows. Try it out tonight!
That’s it. That’s our list of ways to stay social while social distancing. We’ll see you (through a screen) out there. What are you doing to stay social while social distancing? Let us know in the comments and we’ll share our favorites on our Facebook page.