Nonprofit Spotlight: Callanwolde Fine Arts Center

We’re thrilled to celebrate our incredible nonprofit partner, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Nestled in the heart of Atlanta, Callanwolde is more than just a place to take an art class, it’s a vibrant hub of creativity, community, and history.

Callanwolde believes that art should be for everyone. That’s why they’re breaking down barriers to access, making sure that world-class programs in dance, music, painting, pottery, and more are within reach for low-income families, veterans, people experiencing housing insecurity, and individuals with disabilities. Their mission isn’t just about teaching art, it’s about building equity, opening doors, and creating a more connected, expressive Atlanta.

Learn more about Callenwolde Fine Arts Center!

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Tell us about your organization – what’s your mission, and what does it mean to the our community?

Our mission is to provide the Atlanta community with premier, accessible arts education, especially to the underserved, while promoting enjoyment of the arts at the historic and inspiring Callanwolde estate. Callanwolde is dedicated to addressing the gap in access to high-quality arts education, ensuring that it is available to all members of the community, regardless of financial means or socio-economic background. Our focus is on making a diverse range of arts education opportunities accessible, particularly to underserved groups such as low-income families, veterans, individuals facing housing insecurity, and people with disabilities.

Can you share some impact stats or comments about the work being done by your organization?

Our Art Scholars program, which began in 2022, served over 300 3rd-5th graders from six different Title I schools in south DeKalb County during 2024. Students attended 20 days of free arts programming throughout the year during teacher workdays and school breaks. In 2024, we launched a new program called Young Artists League. This 12-week art after-school program was introduced at Kelley Lake Elementary. Callanwolde provides students with art materials for the classroom and home, high-quality instruction, and transportation at no cost to families. In addition to Kelley Lake Elementary, Dance Progressions added Oak View Elementary to the program. 29 students who qualify for Title I assistance participated in 24 weeks of free after-school dance programming and performed at the Callanwolde Spring Recital. Our final community concert of 2024, the 25th season of Jazz on the Lawn, featured Joe Gransden’s Big Band with special guest vocalists Karla Harris, Ruby Velle, and Robin Latimore. The concert sold over 550 tickets, breaking the previous record set by Grammy award-winning artist Samara Joy.

What’s the history of your organization? How and why did it get started?

Callanwolde is the historic estate of the family of Charles Howard Candler from 1920 until 1959. Howard Candler was the oldest son of Asa Griggs Candler, the Atlanta pharmacist who purchased the rights to the formula for Coca-Cola. In the 1970s, the Callanwolde Foundation was established to save the abandoned historic estate from development. The facility was eventually purchased by DeKalb County and established as a community arts center, providing top-tier arts education opportunities for decades. In recent years, Callanwolde has expanded its mission to include a particular focus on reaching underserved communities. We aim to make our diverse range of arts education opportunities accessible, particularly to underserved groups such as low-income families, veterans, individuals facing housing insecurity, and people with disabilities. By investing in these communities, we are enriching Atlanta's cultural fabric and fostering a legacy of creativity and expression for future generations.

What kind of programming do you offer to the community?

ARTS EDUCATION: Classes for adults and children in pottery, painting, drawing, jewelry-making, blacksmithing, weaving, photography, and dance. We also host six weeks of art camp each summer for children and teens. Financial aid is available for all of our classes based on merit and need.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS (offered tuition-free to qualifying participants): Art classes for adults with disabilities, veterans, Title I & Title III students, and previously unhoused individuals and families.

COMMUNITY ART PROGRAMMING: Callanwolde provides opportunities for community engagement year-round through our Spring Concert Series, Jazz on the Lawn Concerts, and Winter House: a seasonal celebration and opportunity for themed workshops, performances, and decor enjoyment. Concerts provide an accessible opportunity for performing artist to showcase their artistry to the local community. Our outdoor amphitheater holds up to 550 guests.

ART GALLERY: Callanwolde continues to expand its presence within Atlanta’s vibrant arts ecosystem, strengthening its role as a platform for emerging, mid-career, and established artists. Our gallery not only showcases dynamic and thought-provoking exhibitions, but also remains dedicated to supporting arts education initiatives and other organizations that share our mission of fostering creative expression.

What problem is your organization trying to solve, and can you tell us more about the issue?

Callanwolde is dedicated to addressing the gap in access to high-quality arts education, ensuring that it is available to all members of the community, regardless of financial means or socio-economic background. Our focus is on making a diverse range of arts education opportunities accessible, particularly to underserved groups such as low-income families, veterans, individuals facing housing insecurity, and people with disabilities. By investing in these communities, we are enriching Atlanta's cultural fabric and fostering a legacy of creativity and expression for future generations. Another key aspect of our mission is the preservation and enjoyment of the historic Callanwolde estate. Established in the 1970s to save this important piece of Atlanta's history, our foundation maintains the estate’s scenic grounds for the public to enjoy. Callanwolde plays host to concerts, weddings, and community events, offering a space for connection, reflection, and artistic celebration.

How do volunteers support your mission? What impact do they have on your work? What difference do they make?

Volunteers support our mission by enabling us to host large community-focused events despite our small staff. Volunteers are particularly helpful in staffing our Winter House holiday event in December and our spring and fall concerts. Not only do these events help create a space for connection, reflection, and artistic celebration, but they also earn revenue that we are then able to utilize in growing our underserved community engagement programming and financial aid. Volunteers are also key in helping us host Art Scholars camps, which invite up to 70 Title I 3rd - 5th graders to Callanwolde for week-long art camps. With only two full-time camp staff, volunteers are essential in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment during Art Scholars weeks.

What’s your biggest highlight or success from the past year?

Our biggest success has been the rapid expansion of our community engagement programming for Title I students. Thanks to the support from community funders and volunteers, we continue to be able to add additional Art Scholars camp days to the schedule, serving even more children who need somewhere safe to go during school breaks. We are also constantly exploring ways to expand our after-school art and dance programs into more schools. In 2024, we added an additional school to our Dance Progressions program, and launched a new visual arts program called Young Artists League.

How many volunteers do you need every month, and can you describe the experience of serving with your organization for the volunteer? What do they do? What’s a day in the life as a volunteer with your organization?

Our volunteers needs vary greatly month to month since we are very event-based. In the spring and fall we typically need 10-15 volunteers per month to assist with concerts and Art Scholars camps. We also have a well-attended week of Art Scholars camp a the end of the summer, which can take up to 10 volunteers. In December, our Winter House event utilizes up to 30 volunteers over the course of three weekends. Volunteers typically assist with things like check in, greeting and way finding, assisting children with art projects, craft clean up, and general supervision of kids during camp. We encourage our volunteers to be as dynamic as our events are... one day you may be organizing a check in roster or giving directions around the campus, the next you may be putting up holiday decor or cutting out paper shapes for an art project!

What types of projects do you offer? What are your biggest projects available, and needs from volunteers? Tell us about a few different offerings.

Art Scholars Camp Assistants: Great for folks who like working with young kids and don't mind a little controlled chaos! Volunteers are needed to provide general supervision, as well as assist instructors in leading art projects throughout the day.

Concert Helpers: Perfect for more outgoing volunteers who enjoy making folks feel welcome. Volunteers are needed to help with guest check in, greeting and way finding, and breakdown. You also get to enjoy the music for free!

Winter House Helpers: Great for anyone who likes to spread some holiday cheer. Volunteers are needed to help with guest check in, greeting and way finding, light clean up, and decor prep.

Who is your volunteer manager, and what’s their favorite thing about working for your organization?

Our volunteer manager is Becca Gross. She enjoys being a part of the wide variety of events, classes, and other offerings that are always going on around Callanwolde, and the freedom to be creative in her role.

What do volunteers love about working with your organization?

Our volunteers love getting to give back to the community while enjoying such a unique and beautiful space.

What’s going to be happening with your organization in 2025 that you’re really excited about?

We are really excited about some of the new community engagement classes we are planning to launch this year for veterans and folks looking for more therapy-informed art classes.

Let’s leave our readers with a list of ways they can jump in and get involved. Tell us how we can support you!

1. Join our volunteer email list at https://callanwolde.org/volunteer/. Our organization is constantly evolving and you never know when we may announce a new volunteer opportunity!

2. Our biggest volunteer need is with Art Scholars. If you are someone who loves working with children, please be on the lookout for the listing for our summer Art Scholars camp taking place in late July. It should be posted to Hands On Atlanta in the next few weeks.

Nonprofit Spotlight: Another Chance of Atlanta, Inc.

As one of our amazing nonprofit partners and a current agency in our Hands On Hunger program, Another Chance of Atlanta Inc. is working every day to meet people where they are and offer the resources they need to thrive. What started as a mission to support women in Atlanta has evolved to not only helping women, but now assisting men, families, veterans and ultimately anyone who may be in need. From providing food and housing in Fulton County to offering permanent supportive housing for veterans in Gwinnett and Clayton counties, their impact runs deep.

It’s not just about food or shelter—it’s about dignity, opportunity, and the belief that everyone deserves another chance.

We’re excited to partner with organizations like Another Chance of Atlanta who are building stronger, more equitable communities—one meal, one home, and one neighbor at a time.

Learn more about Another Chance of Atlanta below!

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Tell us about your organization – what’s your mission, and what does it mean to the our community?

Another Chance of Atlanta’s mission is to empower the community by providing a structural living environment, life enhancement skills and food to individuals and families seeking support. We empower individuals and families by helping them to navigate through life’s obstacles while at the same time addressing needs, removing barriers, providing resources and ultimately being a road map by guiding them towards independence and sustainability. This means a healthier and more productive community! This also means that those who are living with no income or even low-income can have access to resources that will help them live a better quality of life.

Can you share some impact stats or comments about the work being done by your organization?

Another Chance of Atlanta, Inc. provides housing and housing assistance to over 100 people each year. We also make it easy for over 300 people from our community to access food weekly.

What’s the history of your organization? How and why did it get started?

Another Chance of Atlanta, Inc. started back in 2000 initially just being a supportive service provider for just women. Over the years we have evolved to not only helping women, but now we assist men, families, veterans and ultimately anyone who may be in need. We started because our executive director Rozell Green has a great passion for our community and helping those in need. Rozell knows first-hand what it is like to be homeless after being homeless with her 2 children. She identifies with the struggle and knows how difficult it was getting assistance. There weren't many for women and children and so this is what led her to starting Another Chance of Atlanta, Inc.

What problem is your organization trying to solve, and can you tell us more about the issue?

Our agency isn’t trying to solve one specific issue however, our core issues are helping to address and solve homelessness and food insecurity in metro Atlanta. There are many families and individuals who are homeless and hungry throughout metro Atlanta. We are an agency who is known for bringing resources and assistance directly to those affected. We understand that there are many barriers people face when trying to access resources. Our goal is to remove the red tape and all barriers so more people can get the assistance that they need.

How do volunteers support your mission? What impact do they have on your work? What difference do they make?

Volunteers may support our mission by allowing us to utilize their expertise! Rather it be helping us to paint units for our homeless veterans or helping to distribute food; volunteers are a big component of our operations and they help us to be more efficient. As we host many events throughout the year we love to see volunteers get involved. The impact that volunteers have on our work is substantial. We can’t do the work without them. Volunteers help us to be able to assist on a much larger scale.

What’s your biggest highlight or success from the past year?

Our biggest highlight last year was us hitting our first year mark of our food pantry being open. We had a huge Back to School event outside of our food pantry during that same month that brought hundreds of people out. We were able to assist with food, back to school supplies and resources all in one spot! We had a lot of agencies and organizations out at our food pantry who partnered.

How many volunteers do you need every month, and can you describe the experience of serving with your organization for the volunteer? What do they do? What’s a day in the life as a volunteer with your organization?

We utilize and need about 100 volunteers per month. We are known for bringing fun and positive energy. Volunteers assist us with getting food ready to be distributed and helping us to distribute the food each week. In addition, we also utilize volunteers to help us provide assistance to low-income families who may come into our office and we utilize volunteers to help with our housing programs; such as helping us to paint apartments for our low-income families and veterans. A day in the life as a volunteer with our organization could change depending on which event or opportunity you may be volunteering for. Each volunteer can expect to have fun and a great experience!

What types of projects do you offer? What are your biggest projects available, and needs from volunteers? Tell us about a few different offerings.

We offer projects at our food pantry, events, at our office or with any of our programming. Our biggest projects available are our weekly food pantry projects and our July Back to School event.

Who is your volunteer manager, and what’s their favorite thing about working for your organization?

Ms. Peaches is our volunteer manager. She is very motherly and loves to interact with our volunteers and to make sure that everyone is having a good time! Her favorite thing about working for our organization is our passion for the community and our commitment to serve.

“Volunteers love how we have fun! They also love how we engage and take the time to get to know each of them.”

— Michael Cornell

What’s going to be happening with your organization in 2025 that you’re really excited about?

This year we will be adding more events and having more community vendors come out to set-up tables to bring more resources to the neighbors visiting our food pantry.

Let’s leave our readers with a list of ways they can jump in and get involved. Tell us how we can support you!

Readers can support us by signing up for any one of our events on the Hands On Atlanta website or by visiting the Volunteer With Us section of our website at anotherchanceofatlanta.org. If readers would like additional information or would like to communicate with us, please send us an email at info@anotherchanceofatlanta.org

Nonprofit Spotlight: City Bridges Food Pantry

When you see a need in your community, you step up, and that’s exactly what New City Church did nearly 20 years ago when it launched City Bridges Food Pantry. What started as a small outreach effort has grown into a vital resource for over 4,000 families monthly facing food insecurity across Atlanta.

In 2024, the agency distributed nearly 950,000 pounds of food distributed to more than 50,000 people in need. That’s not just food—it’s stability, it’s care, and it’s compassion delivered right to the doorstep of those who need it most.

We’re thrilled to celebrate partners like City Bridges Food Pantry who show us what’s possible when purpose and community come together.

Learn more about City Bridges Food Pantry below!

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Tell us about your organization – what’s your mission, and what does it mean to the our community?

Our mission is to fight hunger and nourish hope by providing access to nutritious food and essential resources to individuals and families in need. Through compassion, community partnerships, and dignity-driven service, we strive to alleviate food insecurity and foster a stronger, more resilient community. We've had feedback from several clients stating they appreciate being treated with compassion, kindness and respect and they are very grateful for the consistent help they receive.

What kind of programming do you offer to the community?

City Bridges offers two food pantries, one in Fairburn and the other in Peachtree City that distribute food two days per week and serve over 4,000 people monthly.

What problem is your organization trying to solve, and can you tell us more about the issue?

The Atlanta Community Food Bank reports that 1 in 6 children will go to bed hungry tonight and 1 in 9 Georgians is food insecure. We are partnering with Atlanta Community Food Bank to help fight hunger in our community.

How do volunteers support your mission? What impact do they have on your work? What difference do they make?

Hands On Atlanta volunteers have played a vital role in the operation of our pantry. From picking up donations and unloading trucks to packaging food and assisting with distribution, their support has been invaluable. We truly couldn’t do what we do without them.

What’s your biggest highlight or success from the past year?

Our pantry has served over 50,000 people in need over the past year. This number has risen annually and our challenges have been very real, but God has enabled us to keep meeting the needs both emotional and physical in our community in spite of the challenges and this is a wonderful thing.

How many volunteers do you need every month, and can you describe the experience of serving with your organization for the volunteer? What do they do? What’s a day in the life as a volunteer with your organization?

We have 200 volunteer opportunities per month. Volunteers are greeted by our volunteer coordinator and given the instruction they need to fulfill the task that best suits them. They are then partnered with our regular volunteers to complete their task.

“Terry is our volunteer coordinator. He has a genuine love for people and enjoys interacting with the volunteers and serving our clients.”

— City Bridges Staff

What types of projects do you offer? What are your biggest projects available, and needs from volunteers? Tell us about a few different offerings.

Our volunteer projects include unloading donations from the trucks, sorting and packaging food for distribution, delivering and loading food into cars. Volunteers can also help package backpack meals to be delivered to a local school for students who have been identified with significant food insecurity.

What do volunteers love about working with your organization?

Our volunteers love knowing they are doing something that is making a tangible difference for someone in need

What’s going to be happening with your organization in 2025 that you’re really excited about?

We are excited to be purchasing an additional truck to make donation pick ups much more efficient and increase the capacity to serve more people.

Let’s leave our readers with a list of ways they can jump in and get involved. Tell us how we can support you!

We welcome volunteers to join us in receiving, packaging and distributing food to our neighbors as the need continues to rise.

The Welcome Co-Op: A Resource for Refugee Families

We’re excited to shine a light on one of our incredible nonprofit partners, The Welcome Co-Op — a true champion for refugee families making Georgia their new home.

At Hands On Atlanta, we believe in the power of community, and The Welcome Co-Op lives that value every day. They’re a collaborative force made up of Atlanta’s refugee resettlement organizations, working together to provide safe housing, clothing, household essentials, and most importantly, a heartfelt welcome to families starting fresh in a new place.

We’re proud to share how The Welcome Co-Op is building a more inclusive, supportive Atlanta — one family at a time. By coming together, we can say “welcome home” a little louder, a little stronger, and a whole lot more meaningfully.

Read our interview with Emily from The Welcome Co-Op below!

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Tell us about your organization – what’s your mission, and what does it mean to the our community?

The Welcome Co-op is Georgia’s trusted advocate for new refugees, helping to secure housing and ensure a smooth and seamless transition for our state’s newest and ever-resilient residents. We are a collaboration of the refugee resettlement organizations in Atlanta, building community together by providing a warm welcome to refugee families in Georgia. Our team secures housing, sets up welcoming homes, and provides clothing to new families. By partnering together, we can collectively say ‘welcome home’ to our newest neighbors.

Can you share some impact stats or comments about the work being done by your organization?

Last year, we set up 728 apartments for refugee families in metro Atlanta and provided clothing and shoes for over 1,200 individuals. Over 3,400 newcomers received support from The Welcome Co-Op in 2024.

“I am deeply passionate about the helping profession, particularly the work of welcoming refugees to Georgia and am grateful to be part of the collaborative model of The Welcome Co-op”

— Emily Laney

What’s the history of your organization? How and why did it get started?

The Welcome Co-Op was started by the refugee resettlement agencies of Atlanta to build economies of scale and increase their collective impact in providing safe, stable housing for refugee families. During a time of low refugee arrivals, the founding agencies of the organization came together to build an organization and system to ensure all refugees coming to Atlanta had housing and basic needs met. This model is the first of its kind in the refugee serving community in the county.

What kind of programming do you offer to the community?

Our current focus is providing clothing, shoes and household items to refugee families in need in Atlanta. While we are not welcoming new refugees due to changes in federal policy, refugee families can come to our space to select needed items to help alleviate financial burdens as they move along the path to self sufficiency.

What problem is your organization trying to solve, and can you tell us more about the issue?

Refugee families often arrive in the US with very few possessions. Resettlement agencies are tasked with helping them quickly move to self sufficiency and it can be challenging to find all the needed resources for families. The Welcome Co-Op is a centralized resource for these families as they adjust to life in their new home.

How do volunteers support your mission? What impact do they have on your work? What difference do they make?

Volunteers make a huge impact on our mission. Volunteers help sort donations in our Shop of Hope and keep our warehouse organized so we can receive more donations. Volunteers who come on a weekly basis are able to help clients shop for clothing and household items in our Shop of Hope, ensuring we can serve as many people as possible. Without volunteers, our team would not be able to get donations sorted and on the floor nearly as quickly.

What’s your biggest highlight or success from the past year?

This past year we welcomed a record number of refugees to Georgia, with over 3,400 refugees welcomed to our state. We also moved into our first permanent space. This space houses our warehouse, offices and Shop of Hope, allowing us to welcome clients to select items and host larger numbers of volunteers

How many volunteers do you need every month, and can you describe the experience of serving with your organization for the volunteer? What do they do? What’s a day in the life as a volunteer with your organization?

Our team loves working with volunteers! We usually need 5-8 volunteers three days a week to sort donations and help with organizing projects. Our hope is to have 15 volunteers who serve weekly helping clients shop for clothing and household items. We usually have enough work for up to 100 people to help per month!

What types of projects do you offer? What are your biggest projects available, and needs from volunteers? Tell us abouta few different offerings.

Volunteers help sort donations at our warehouse and Shop of Hope, preparing items to be placed on the shopping floor for clients to select. Volunteers also help with organizing projects in our Warehouse, which may include assembling or moving furniture. Volunteers who are able to help on a regular basis help clients select clothing and basic needs items.

“Working at a job where I can help others natural thing for me, being able to help people has been ingrained in me for most of my life.”

— Jakeb Sanders

What do volunteers love about working with your organization?

Volunteers love our mission of welcoming refugees. They also love to help us organize and sort clothing. We also hear from volunteers that setting up apartments is a lot of fun and very meaningful, as they know they are able to help welcome people to Georgia through their service.

What’s going to be happening with your organization in 2025 that you’re really excited about?

Even though refugees are not arriving at the moment, we are excited to expand our programming to serve more families in 2025. We are opening up our innovative membership model to more nonprofits who serve newcomers and will have even more needs for donations and volunteers in the coming days.

Let’s leave our readers with a list of ways they can jump in and get involved. Tell us how we can support you!

We are always looking for individual volunteers and groups to join us at our office to sort donations and help with other projects. Clothing and household donations are also a big!

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Meet Five Points Farm + Community Garden: Creating green spaces throughout Atlanta's Downtown!

We’re excited to feature nonprofit partner - Five Points Farm, a Community Garden! The Five Points Community Garden started on top of the Five Points MARTA station - but they've moved and expanded to create additional "points" around downtown. The garden is also a member of AgLanta Grows-A-Lot program where they share resources and information with other community gardens around metro Atlanta.

Get involved with 5 Points Farm:

• To volunteer, click on this link

Learn more about Five Points Farm in our interview below!

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Tell us about your organization – what’s your mission, and what does it mean to the our community?

The Five Points Community Garden is for downtown residents or workers (or close to downtown) who want to grow their own food, and well as build community in the heart of the city. We're also creating green spaces in a sea of asphalt and concrete. While our original garden was contained on top of the Five Points MARTA station - we've expanded beyond to create additional "points" around downtown that's now a pollinator garden at Underground and a rooftop herb/drip irrigation garden on top of the Kessler. We're a member of AgLanta Grows-A-Lot program where we share resources and information with other community gardens around metro Atlanta. We've also provided tours and hosted neighborhood meetings.

Can you share some impact stats or comments about the work being done by your organization?

Our impact extends far beyond our garden beds. In 2024 alone, we've engaged more than 400 volunteers who have contributed more than 2,000 hours to help us relocate and establish our new space. These dedicated individuals have transformed a neglected, weed-filled parking lot into a thriving green space that nourishes both body and soul. We're planning to continue our work as a gathering place for the community, hosting everything from Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association meetings to urban agriculture education events. Our garden is a living classroom, a community hub, and a model for sustainable urban living.

What’s the history of your organization? How and why did it get started?

Established in 2016 through a visionary partnership between Central Atlanta Progress, the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (CAP/ADID), and MARTA, our garden has deep roots in the community. In 2018, we joined forces with the City of Atlanta's Office of Resilience through its AgLanta program, solidifying our position as a key player in Atlanta's urban agriculture movement.Today, our garden is a vibrant tapestry of galvanized steel planters, raised beds and giant clay pots brimming with garden favorites and exotic plants alike. From juicy tomatoes to aji peppers and aromatic za'atar, our 23 dedicated members cultivate a diverse array of produce. But we're more than just a garden—we're a vital source of fresh food in an area that lacks easy access to a major grocery store.Thanks to AgLanta’s Grows-a-Lot and support from organizations like Food Well Alliance and ChangeX, we've expanded our vision and reach. Our garden now boasts a greenhouse, tool storage, compost station in our new space - and a pollinator garden at Underground. We're proud to be an official Pollinator Partner and completing certification as a Pollinator Steward.

What kind of programming do you offer to the community?

While we haven't had a specific schedule of programming, we're also using our Hands On volunteer sessions to educate. And our Urban Ag partners have used our space for classes and online demonstrations.

What problem is your organization trying to solve, and can you tell us more about the issue?

Twenty-five percent of downtown Atlanta is parking lots. As someone who lives in a high-rise, garden space is usually a few plants on a windowsill. We're not only turning a gravel parking lot into much needed greenspace - but we're providing food and community.

“Volunteers have been critical to the success of the 5 Points Garden. While our garden members help to maintain their plots, it’s hard to get full participation for our other features in the garden. Without volunteers, we wouldn’t have been able to create our pollinator garden, build our greenhouse, install and maintain our hydroponic system. They have been critical in our move - with nearly 400 volunteers helping us since the start of this year. We wouldn’t exist without their help!”

— Jim Hackler

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What’s your biggest highlight or success from the past year?

Our move from on top of the 5 Points MARTA station to a gravel parking lot 5 blocks south. It took 6 months, much of that bringing plants and supplies down Forsyth St. - even carrying the greenhouse by hand! We're now in our new space and playing catch up to the growing season.

How many volunteers do you need every month, and can you describe the experience of serving with your organization for the volunteer? What do they do? What’s a day in the life as a volunteer with your organization?

We’ve had an extremely busy 2024 so far, and it’s with help from our Hands On volunteers that we’re getting things up and running. We haven’t had too many typical days - as we’re still setting up the garden infrastructure (think digging a new rain garden) - but we want to match volunteers with their skills - whether that’s construction and landscaping, or less strenuous like watering (great for kids) and weeding, mulching and planting seeds. And we’re eager to share our knowledge on what grows in Georgia! Dress to get dirty - and bring bug spray if they bother you. We have gloves if you didn’t bring them - and water to keep you hydrated. 

We normally hold our biggest volunteer sessions with anywhere from 15 to 25 people on Sunday morning because it’s cooler, the on street parking is free, and it’s quieter downtown. Our work session will start at 9am - but those looking for some more community service time can come in at 8:30 to help set and break down after. We always do a group picture toward the end - which gives me a chance to thank everyone there. We also get a lot of return volunteers who jump right in to continue projects they’ve worked on before - we really want everyone to enjoy what they’re doing and to see their impact on our downtown community garden.

What types of projects do you offer? What are your biggest projects available, and needs from volunteers? Tell us abouta few different offerings.

We're always exploring projects that can make our garden better - as well as turn out space into an Urban Ag Resource Center. In addition to our new Zero Waste Zone Station (described below), we're building a rain garden. We'd also like to get a rain barrel up and running. And ongoing garden projects are seed planting, transplanting, weeding, fertilizing. We're also exploring creating a mural on our stone and brick walls.

Who is your volunteer manager, and what’s their favorite thing about working for your organization?

We're all volunteers at the 5 Points Garden - so there's not officially a volunteer manager - but what I really enjoy is giving volunteers a little direction and let them create the solution. It's especially rewarding when a volunteer shows a keen interest in one of our project - and they turn into a garden member. One example is our hydroponic system - where a young engineer took it on and is now managing it as a fun side project for him. Our best members started as volunteers.

“We want our volunteers to enjoy working in the garden, and give them ownership of their work. Whether it’s creating a raised bed or planting a tree - we want them to be able to come back and see the results and feel pride in how they’re contributed. And we look for opportunities to share our knowledge about growing a garden so that it’s less intimating.”

— Jim Hackler

What’s going to be happening with your organization in 2024 that you’re really excited about?

We want to create a Zero Waste Zone Station @ 5 Points Community Garden. Atlanta launched the Southeast’s first Zero Waste Zone in 2009 - but it’s since disappeared. This project will look at what happened to it and how we can relaunch it on a smaller scale by creating a compost station at a downtown community garden that collects food waste from surrounding businesses using a bicycle cart.

The 1st goal is building a Zero Waste Zone station at the front of the 5 Points Community Garden (203 Forsyth St) that’s visible with signage to be a demonstration and education site. It will feature a robust, three bin compost system, a biochar kiln and vermiculture (and other waste reduction techniques as the students research what’s appropriate).

The 2nd goal is researching then creating a Zero Waste collection system. This is examining how the process worked in the past and establishing relationships with local food service businesses to restart it - and collect the waste using bicycle carts (there are a numberof urban bike-powered compost collection services in the US - we’d be the first in Atlanta!).

The 3rd goal is community engagement and education. The 5 Points Garden has already had more than 400 Hands On volunteers so far this year (many of those students). In addition to its current garden members, it plans to involve residents of The Melody (the first project in Atlanta's Rapid Housing Initiative). The Zero Waste Zone creates an opportunity to showcase composting to its members, volunteers and visitors.

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Let’s leave our readers with a list of ways they can jump in and get involved. Tell us how we can support you!

Our normal volunteer sessions are Sunday mornings - so we welcome anyone of any ability or age (and bring a group and we'll have you work together). We can also accommodate groups outside of our normal volunteer days. I had a building consulting group construct our greenhouse on a Friday afternoon as a team building project.

Meet Livable Buckhead: Making Buckhead a thriving place to work and live!

We’re excited to feature one of our awesome nonprofit partners, Livable Buckhead! Their mission is to create positive impact in Buckhead, so it is always an amazing place to live and work. Livable Buckhead brings residents, local businesses, workers, and visitors together to address a wide range of issues important to all of Atlanta – greenspace, alternative transportation, workforce housing, sustainable practices, zoning, public art – and does so by fostering relationships between groups with disparate priorities and chipping away at systemic inequalities that have been in place for generations.

Get involved with Livable Buckhead:

• To volunteer, click on this link

• Visit their website here

Read more about Livable Buckhead in our interview below!

Tell us about your organization – what’s your mission, and what does it mean to the our community?

We are committed to transparency, in-depth research, and an inclusive approach to tackling issues of concern. Livable Buckhead has created a model for collaborative governance and community trust-building that works. Being a small organization, we do this all through partnerships. Collaboration and inclusivity are two of our core values that we put into practice every hour of every day.

“In 2024, we are very excited about three upcoming events: PARK(ing) Day, Party on the PATH and the Miracle on Peachtree suite of programming which includes wreath decorating benefitting the police and fire departments, a tree lighting ceremony with the Atlanta Boy Choir and two separate hot chocolate crawls across Buckhead.”

— Livable Buckhead Staff

Can you share some impact stats or comments about the work being done by your organization?

Livable Buckhead works every day to bring knowledge, innovation, and inspiration to community concerns. Many people do not understand that Livable Buckhead does not represent any one interest, but rather works to create a neighborhood where everyone who lives, works, and plays here feels their voices are heard and their perspectives are reflected in solutions. When trusted partners recognize the role that Livable Buckhead plays in bringing everyone in the community to the table and acknowledge their many achievements and goals for the future, their capacity to create sustainable change increases and they are more effective.

As an organization, Livable Buckhead regularly goes above and beyond to engage in and support its community partners’ activities and projects. You can regularly find the LBI team taking part in community service projects ranging from painting the local police zone, to cooking burgers for the north battalion of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, clearing invasive species, helping to promote senior citizen events, donning waders to clean out a detention pond, and graffiti removal. The Livable Buckhead team is never on the sidelines - they are willing to jump in and do the hard work. They have SHOWN UP since 1999 and will keep on doing it because it is the right thing to do.

What’s the history of your organization? How and why did it get started?

Livable Buckhead and its predecessor organization “BATMA” formed during a time of extensive community strife. Recognizing that it would be impossible to create a culture of community sustainability under these circumstances, Livable Buckhead established a model of doing the community’s business that is inclusive and transparent...not only inviting, but requiring, everyone to SHOW UP and take part.

In the 1980’s, the building of GA400 highway spawned a bitter community battle that pitted developers against residents. The highway literally divided the community in half, severing neighbor from neighbor in an effort to get workers from northern suburbs to jobs in downtown Atlanta while also opening valuable Buckhead land for development. Residents were subjected to “negotiations” with an unaccommodating department of transportation and saw their future filled with gridlocked traffic while developers began designing their skyscrapers and projecting their profit margins. Dubbed the “scar that will never heal” by some residents, the highway eroded community trust and pushed the community firmly into two camps.

In 1999, the Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association “BATMA” was created out of the Buckhead Business Association with a mission to mitigate traffic from the coming development. BATMA’s board of directors hired an executive director fresh out of planning school, with three years at the regional planning agency under her belt, a penchant for tackling tough issues, a passion for bringing people together, and a commitment to going anywhere at any time to ensure that the whole community was engaged in decision-making. Under this leadership, the driving principle for BATMA and subsequently Livable Buckhead is all about showing up for the community.

What kind of programming do you offer to the community?

What problem is your organization trying to solve, and can you tell us more about the issue?

Over the course of two decades, through a series of community planning efforts built on open communication, strong public engagement, and transparency, Livable Buckhead created avenues for public engagement, helped everyone to work together, and slowly created a bridge connecting the dividing sides. Silos began to erode, and community discourse became productive. Throughout 10 major plans and projects, Livable Buckhead earned the trust needed to build a new diverse community table where everyone with a personal stake in the community is welcome. The social transformation achieved through this creative approach led to more equitable, sustainable decisions improving livability in the community.

How do volunteers support your mission? What impact do they have on your work? What difference do they make?

As Livable Buckhead has evolved into producing more community-based events and programming, volunteers have become an integral part of our organization. Not only do volunteers help to expand our staff's reach, but also provide an important conduit for community engagement. Without the hard work and commitment from our volunteers, we literally would not be able to do what we do.

What’s your biggest highlight or success from the past year?

Over the past year, Livable Buckhead has built up a large portfolio of successes, including community-wide events such as our buckheadRUN 5K, 100+ person bike ride on PATH400, Party on the PATH, and the Miracle on Peachtree Hot Chocolate Crawl. We've also hosted volunteer projects as diverse as waterway cleanups, graffiti removals, public art projects and first responder appreciation cook outs.

How many volunteers do you need every month, and can you describe the experience of serving with your organization for the volunteer? What do they do? What’s a day in the life as a volunteer with your organization?

Our volunteer needs fluctuate month-to-month, but an average month will see the need from between 10 to 30 volunteers across a range of experiences and skill sets. No day is the same, and our volunteers will find their experience as challenging as they want it to be.

What types of projects do you offer? What are your biggest projects available, and needs from volunteers? Tell us about a few different offerings.

Because of our multiple program areas, volunteers can find the projects that suit them best, whether it's checking in guests at party, planting native flora, clearing invasive species, setting up tables and tents, and even helping wrangling llamas.

Who is your volunteer manager, and what’s their favorite thing about working for your organization?

Donna Dodson, our community engagement manager, heads up our volunteer management, in collaboration with Helen Petersen, our sustainability manager. Both came to Livable Buckhead for the mission-based work, and thrive in the dynamic environment, where every day brings both a new challenge, and a chance to improve our community through engagement.

What do volunteers love about working with your organization?

In our follow-up communications to volunteers, the theme that weaves its way through is one of fun and sense of accomplishment. We approach all the events and projects with volunteers through the lens of positive engagement. Not only should our volunteers leave with a feeling of having made a difference, but we also want them to leave with a smile on their faces, wanting to come back.

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Championing Community with YMCA of Metro Atlanta

We’re excited to introduce one of our amazing nonprofit partners, YMCA of Metro Atlanta. The YMCA of Metro Atlanta is celebrating a whopping 166 years of serving our incredible community! Since 1858, they have been more than just a gym – they’re a community-driven powerhouse dedicated to addressing critical needs, fostering communities, and empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential.

Get involved with the Y:

• To volunteer with the Y, click on this link.

• To learn more about membership or program offerings, click on this link

Read more about The YMCA in our interview below!

Tell us about your organization – what’s your mission, and what does it mean to the our community?

At the Y, we are grounded in our mission, of being the organization that is open to and serving all with programs and services that build healthy mind, body, and spirit. We are guided by our values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility, and we are inspired by our vision, to be the organization that champions communities where everyone belongs. To the community, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta is a resource center and a champion for the individuals that we serve. Powered by our exceptional staff and volunteers, the Y delivers transformative programs that build resilience, facilitate achievement, foster belonging, and reach beyond our walls.

Can you share some impact stats or comments about the work being done by your organization?

In 2023, we surveyed members of our membership/wellness facilities to better understand their experience and overall perception of the Y. 91% of Y members achieve personal health and wellness goals at the Y. 93% of Y members believe that the Y is a community resource for improving health and well-being. 94% of Y members report a greater sense of belonging. At the start of the pandemic, the Y made a conscious decision to pivot and address community needs by providing frontline workers emergency childcare and hunger relief. Since March of 2020, the Y has served well over 1 million meals. In alignment with the Y’s Safety Around Water program and its founding of the Atlanta Water Safety Coalition in partnership with the City of Atlanta’s Parks & Recreation Department, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the American Red Cross, the Greater Atlanta Water Safety Alliance, and WABE, we are focused on drowning prevention. By 2025 we aim to teach 10,000 children from under-resourced communities how to swim, and at the end of 2023, we reached 6,293 children. As an organization founded on volunteerism, and last year alone Y volunteers contributed more than 28,000 service hours across more than 4,050 volunteer experiences such as coaching youth sports, supporting hunger relief programming, assisting with special events, and so much more!

What’s the history of your organization? How and why did it get started?

The YMCA was founded in 1844 in London, England and has grown into one of the largest volunteer organizations in the world. The Y operates in 120 countries and reaches about 64 million people worldwide each year.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta was founded in 1858 with a vision to create an organization that would welcome individuals as they came to Atlanta and provide a safe place for growth, community, and faith. Methodist Minister Basil H Overby, Robert W. Woodruff’s great-grandfather was the Atlanta YMCAs first president. His focus was to give young men a home away from home and a source of spiritual guidance. The Y has grown to meet the city's needs, today serving hundreds of thousands of individuals through numerous membership branches and program sites across greater Atlanta. Serving the Atlanta Metropolitan region for more than 165 years, the Y has been an essential community organization, offering health and wellbeing opportunities for children, teens, adults, and seniors to learn, grow, serve, and thrive. By providing high-quality programs that engage 250,000 children, families, and communities through every stage of development.

What kind of programming do you offer to the community?

We offer early learning and Head Start programming for families who have little ones from infancy to 5 years of age. The Y is the largest early education provider in the state serving more than 2,500 children annually. With a focus on serving under resourced and historically marginalized communities, the Y employs diverse models tailored to unique community needs, all with a shared goal of preparing children for lifelong success through proven, research-based methods in numeracy, language, and literacy. Beneath the umbrella of youth development, we provide youth sports, day camp and residential camp, teen leadership, and after-school programming across Metro Atlanta. Our goal is that youth have access to reimagined extended learning experiences that improve academic achievement and build a generation of change makers. Our goal for teens is that through real world skill development, they are prepared to take ownership of their futures and are empowered to excel in life and positively impact their communities. With an emphasis on “body”, at the core to the work of the Y is our preventative holistic wellness programs and health equity programs that address health disparities. Programs consist of group exercise and fitness, personal coaching/training, adult sports, and weight loss for life- the Y’s signature weight loss program. At the Y, we recognize that health inequities exist based on a person’s zip code and this has informed our health equity or outreach programs since our inception in 1858. These programs consist of water safety and drowning prevention (Safety Around Water/SAW), Y on the Fly- outreach programming that mobilizes unique or standard Y programming, access via Medicaid partnerships with CareSource and Peach State as well as financial assistance to families with varying needs, and hunger relief programming (providing grocery packs of food to families in need).

What problem is your organization trying to solve, and can you tell us more about the issue?

In contemplating our future, through our Y-2025 Strategic Plan we identified a guiding question: What does building healthy mind, body and spirit — with equity at the heart of our work — mean for the Y now and into the future? The heart of our plan builds on what we already do well and adds concentrated rigor to expanding the Y’s impact in six key areas. Under the pillar of Mind, we prioritized: Early Learning to increase access for children and families, explore new models, develop best practices, and influence policy to improve child outcomes. Youth Achievement to provide educational support, social-emotional learning, and real-world skills and workforce development for youth and teens to close the opportunity gap. Within the pillar of Body, we identified the priorities of: Holistic Wellness so that we can be the leading community resource for preventative wellness to reduce chronic and progressive disease. Health Equity to address health disparities across race and socio-economic conditions, lead with education, and provide connections to health services and resources. For the pillar of Spirit, our priorities are: Inclusion + Empowerment, under which we will “create spaces and experiences that foster equity and inclusion, promote understanding and acceptance of people of all faiths and backgrounds, and be an organization that welcomes all. People Are The WHY to connect individual passion to purpose for staff, volunteers, and members with opportunities and experiences for each individual to create positive change in our community.

How do volunteers support your mission? What impact do they have on your work? What difference do they make?

The Y began as an all-volunteer organization, and to this day, volunteers play an integral role in everything we do. From strategic planning to fundraising, from coaching to reading to a child, volunteers are the heart of our Y. When people become a volunteer at the Y, they share their talents, strengths and gifts with those who need it most. Each of our 19 Ys have community engagement boards. Board members are volunteers who serve as the voice of the community to the Y, they’re ambassadors and advocates of the Y, and they connect partners and secure resources to advance the Y’s mission. We also have a young professional's board of Y Ambassador Board members who gather for community service and social opportunities with plans to one day to become a Y Board member.

What’s your biggest highlight or success from the past year?

In November, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta and the Atlanta Hawks announced a multi-year partnership in which the Y and its signature ‘Y’ logo has become the Official Jersey Patch Partner of the Atlanta Hawks. Through this partnership, the Hawks and the Y plan to collaborate on major community initiatives aimed at improving the well-being and health of Atlantans with a focus on increasing access to youth sports, especially basketball. The sport of basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891 while teaching physical education at the YMCA International Training School in Springfield, Mass. Our CEO & President Lauren Koontz has shared, “Everything the YMCA of Metro Atlanta does is grounded in meeting the unique needs of communities – and we can’t do it alone. We’re grateful to partner with the Atlanta Hawks. Together we can increase access and involvement and provide the opportunity for more people to discover their potential and thrive.” Through the partnership, Hawks players, coaching staff and talent will amplify the Y’s robust youth programming and create inspirational content for the next generation with authentic stories from executives, coaches and players who started their basketball journey at their local Y. Additionally, the Hawks will also support the Y in a variety of causes in which they share passion: urgent community needs, promoting social responsibility and uplifting inclusive communities with strong DEI values. Utilizing the in-arena experience and its global marketing assets, the Hawks will also launch a series of campaigns to attract new Y members and raise funds to support the Y’s mission.

How many volunteers do you need every month, and can you describe the experience of serving with your organization for the volunteer? What do they do? What’s a day in the life as a volunteer with your organization?

On average, we need about 300 volunteers or more each month. There are generally four types of volunteer roles at the Y:

What types of projects do you offer? What are your biggest projects available, and needs from volunteers? Tell us about a few different offerings.

Our most turnkey and needed volunteer opportunities directly support day-to-day operations for our facilities. These projects consist of youth sports coaches, packing or distributing food for our hunger relief/mobile market programs, and seasonal events, such as family fairs or resource events. These projects typically have the most significant need. We also have unique youth focused volunteer opportunities that are specific to our youth development programs such as reading to our littlest members in the playcenter, a teen camp volunteer who shadows a camp counselor, and various mentorship and professional development support. As a nonprofit organization, we recognize the value that we can add to for profit organizations by hosting their groups for their service or “Impact” days. We provide tailored volunteer experiences suitable for small to large groups. These experiences typically consist of beautifying our facility grounds or revitalizing our community gardens, preparing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) educational kits, preparing hygiene kits for our homeless families, facilitating STEAM lesson plans and activities with campers, and so much more!

Who is your volunteer manager, and what’s their favorite thing about working for your organization?

Alexis Slocumb, Director of Social Impact is the volunteer manager for the Y. Alexis’ favorite thing about working for the Y is being able to ideate, plan, and execute dynamic volunteer experiences and programs that are gratifying to the volunteer but more importantly dignifying and soul replenishing to those being served. She believes that it is truly a wonderful feeling to see the mission to impact connection happen in real time in the most genuine and authentic way.

What do volunteers love about working with your organization?

We send out a feedback survey within 24 hours of volunteers completing a project. We have included some of their praises below. “The atmosphere was inviting and met the needs of the community. Attendees were satisfied and pleased.” – Dolapo B. “What I volunteered to do was only a small portion of what was needed to make this a successful project. It is truly a collaborative effort by SO many people!” – Lynn B. “Our group loved volunteering with the Y and would definitely come back to volunteer again. We will also recommend it to other groups at Home Depot looking to volunteer in the community since it was such an impactful experience.” – Madeline W. “I felt soccer helped bring all of the kids together to help community relations.” – Brian W. “The ability to Give back knowing the joy and love this will bring to children in need. Can’t wait for the next opportunity!” – Linda T.

What’s going to be happening with your organization in 2024 that you’re really excited about?

The Y is joining several Atlanta employers in providing summer jobs and internship opportunities for youth in the city. The jobs are part of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dicken's Summer Youth Employment Program, which aims to provide jobs and internship opportunities for Atlanta's youth. Thanks to a grant from the city, the Y will offer 30 summer jobs for youth ages 14-24. The jobs available include camp counselor, swim instructor and lifeguard. We have recently established the African American Circle of Giving, enabling transformative change across our community, touching lives from the earliest learners to young adults. The YMCA acknowledges the profound disparities facing African American children and communities of color, particularly in education and health. By providing targeted support, we can nurture the potential of every child, promote health equity, and foster educational success, ensuring that all children have the foundation they need to thrive. This philanthropic support will invest in early learning and school readiness, water safety education, and scholarships for the young men we support through the Y’s Boys and Young Men of Color strategy. Additionally, throughout 2024 we continue to see tremendous growth in the number of people who are joining the Y. The Y is a powerful association of individuals of all ages and from all walks of life joined together by a shared passion: to strengthen community. With a commitment to nurturing the potential of youth, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility, the Y ensures that every individual has access to the essentials needed to learn, grow, and thrive. Though the world may be unpredictable, one thing remains certain – the Y is and always will be dedicated to building healthy, confident, secure and connected children, families, and communities.

Let’s leave our readers with a list of ways they can jump in and get involved. Tell us how we can support you!

Listen the YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s podcast (Y) Connect! Check out (Y) Connect to hear authentic conversations about everything Y. The podcast is hosted by Allison Toller, Y Chief Social Impact Officer; Zarinah Winston, Center Director of Arthur M. Blank Early Learning Center at E.A. Ware; and Robert Wright, Young Family Y Associate Executive Director. The Y started this podcast as way to share the incredible stories about the people at the Y. In a variety of episodes, we interview community leaders, trailblazers, youth advocates, fitness gurus, pickleball pros, and inspiring fathers, mothers, and children who are all passionate about the Y.

HANDS ON ATLANTA LAUNCHES STEAM ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COX ENTERPRISES

Partnership introduces new volunteer portal designed to engage nonprofits focused on STEAM education

Hands On Atlanta is excited to announce a partnership with Cox Enterprises to advance Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) engagement among Atlanta changemakers.

The new STEAM Volunteer Portal powered by Cox Enterprises is available on the Hands On Atlanta website, www.handsonatlanta.org/steam. Through the portal, service projects are more accessible and metro Atlantans can explore nonprofits focused on STEAM.

“STEAM fosters ingenuity, builds resilience, inspires creativity, encourages teamwork, teaches problem-solving and enhances critical-thinking – all of which are vital skills driving our workforce and shaping our future,” said Maury Wolfe, assistant vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Affairs at Cox Enterprises. “Our partnership with Hands On Atlanta allows us to share in their efforts to promote a more equitable and civically engaged community.”

The new portal addresses the critical, ongoing need for volunteers to help execute STEAM programing. Hands On Atlanta and Cox Enterprises hope to increase volunteer engagement in these types of service opportunities while also building STEAM volunteer capacity for the entire Atlanta community.

The portal features an easy-to-navigate map, list of partners and available opportunities. Cox Enterprises will also continue to engage its employees at group volunteer projects across the Hands On Atlanta network of partners.

“This partnership will enable Atlanta to stay at the forefront of STEAM-focused initiatives, positioning our community to thrive as a leader in equity and civic engagement across the country,” said Jay Cranman, Hands On Atlanta president and CEO. “We couldn’t be more excited about this win-win-win opportunity for students, our nonprofit partners and volunteers across metro Atlanta.”