Deliver groceries with Concrete Jungle

During the COVID-19 epidemic, the need for food among the elderly and vulnerable is higher than ever. 

Because of the threat of quarantine, grocery store shelves are often going empty which means there’s less excess for food pantries. The threat of quarantine is also facing food pantry clients who are looking for extra food as well.  Some of our partners are even facing closing if they can not get substantial food to support their clients. 

Concrete Jungle has started a grocery delivery service for food pantry clients who are quarantined or who have higher health risks.  Each day we get more calls from clients who need to stay home in order to stay safe.  They’re having a hard time meeting the volume of calls we’re receiving because of the limited supply of our food pantry partners. Can you help us provide food to our neighbors in need who are quarantined?

They’re looking for volunteers to team up with a family to provide groceries for one or more weeks.  This means you would purchase groceries and deliver to the family’s house, with no contact to protect you and the recipients. 

Send Digital Letters to Seniors at A.G. Rhodes

A note from A.G. Rhodes:

Health officials project challenges in the upcoming weeks with increasing COVID-19 cases expected nationwide, and we are taking difficult measures to further minimize risks. We greatly appreciate the outpouring of support, but out of an abundance of caution and to reduce the amount of physical items coming in and out of our building, as well as non-essential personnel coming up to our front door, we request that you NOT send mail, packages or deliveries to the A.G. Rhodes homes at this time. Please understand that we expect this to be a temporary situation, and we will post updates as necessary. Below are ways that you can continue supporting our residents and staff during these trying times. 

One way you can help is by emailing notes, letters and cards of appreciation to residents at A.G. Rhodes. You may mail them to the activities departments of one or all of our three locations listed below, and they will distribute them. 

You can send encouraging pictures, letters and drawings virtually by emailing them to waystohelp@agrhodes.org.

Donate Diapers to Helping Mamas

Moms in need, need your help! You can donate diapers (and other baby essentials) to Helping Mamas and keep your social distance practices in tact with these convenient drop locations.

Foster a Pet

Foster homes provide temporary care for cats, kittens, dogs and puppies in their own homes, perfect for those who want to volunteer but may not be able to make it to the shelter regularly.

Some animals need as little as two weeks of care, while others may need care for up to three months. Fostering is flexible enough for most lifestyles, and we will do our best to custom-match the animals to each foster home. By offering your time, energy and home to an animal in need, you prepare the animal for adoption into a permanent home as well as help prevent overcrowding in our shelter. 

Cycle Responsibly with ABC

For the next six weeks, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition will be offering a 6-lesson course. ONLINE! 

Whether you are riding our city streets out of necessity to get to work, to the pharmacy, to the grocery store, or to an appointment or you are wanting to just get out and move your body, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition is here for you.

In each lesson, you will brush up on all the skills needed to safely ride in Atlanta’s streets with a focus on how to make an essential trip while social distancing. You will:

• Learn where to get a bike or your bike repaired

• Learn how to do an ABC-Q check to make sure you're bike is ready to go

• Fit your helmet

• Plan a route to your workplace, a grocery store, the pharmacy, or another essential business.

• Discuss signaling and other timely communication strategies

• Know how to safely take the lane

All interactive, virtual classes are 'live' on Wednesdays between 5:30 and 6:10. You will get a follow-up communication before each class on how to engage online. 

Help Childcare Providers Access Loans/Grants

Quality Care for Children (QCC) is recruiting volunteers to help child care providers access SBA loans/grants that are a part of the federal government’s CARES Act.

Child care is composed primarily of small mom and pop businesses and nonprofits. Like other small businesses, they are at risk of closing and never reopening. When the crisis is over and everyone is ready to return to work, many families may struggle to find care. Many small child care programs will not survive without some help.

There are many excellent child care programs led by incredible individuals who are experts in early education, but have little experience completing loan and grant applications. That’s where you come in!

How you can help:

• Talk through their choices and help determine if they are eligible to apply

• Assist them in completing the applications

• Double-check that everything is correct and they have all the required documentation

• Reassure them that they are doing everything correctly

They will offer a train-the-trainer session to educate volunteers about the SBA program and prepare you to provide this support. QCC will connect you with a provider in need of assistance and you and the provider can schedule a phone meeting at a mutually agreeable time. Volunteers should expect to dedicate between a half-hour to two hours of phone assistance.

Can you help support our network of child care providers during this uniquely challenging time? Interested parties should contact ariel.santillan@qccga.org for next steps.