Atlanta, we hear you.

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.” ”

— Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Use Your Skills to Support Star-C

Please join Star-C as we continue to keep our kids educationally engaged. STAR-C’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals in affordable housing communities and stabilize local schools by stabilizing rents and providing academic support and other wraparound services.

We would love volunteers who can help us with a project that includes virtual activities for our kids. This will help STAR-C students by providing necessary academic support, engaging content, and safe activities for students to complete independently or with their families while they are unable to physically attend the STAR-C After School Program where they would have normally had this type of engagement. 

Volunteers can provide the following virtual videos: 

• Simple Yoga demonstrations

• Simple Meditation demonstrations

• Children Exercises

• Reading Books aloud (reading different chapters each day/weekly series)

• Cooking demo (healthy snacks)

• Arts and craft videos (step by step instructions)

• Trivia

• Family games (instruction on how to play different games that are family related)

• Gardening videos

Please send your videos and contact information to Keya Oates@keyaoates@tristarinvest.com. You can also reach me at 404-668-3949.

Send a Thoughtful Note to InCommunity

InCommunity provides care and support to those with developmental and intellectual disabilities (IDD). They recently had to close down their day programs due to COVID-19. The day programs were a consistent part of their individuals’ routine where they saw their friends, interacted with the community & arts, and practiced daily living skills. With “shelter in place” and a shift in routine, it is an adjustment for all.

Those in their programs and in our residential group homes still need care and support from us. Their InCommunity members would love to hear from you during this challenging time! Help spread the love. Send a thoughtful note to those who are still working hard to support individuals in their homes and to those who are being cared for who long for a sense of normalcy. Taking a moment to say thank you or sending a note to say we appreciate you can go a long way!

How it Works

1. Grab a card, postcard or piece of paper for the letter - don't forget an envelope!

2. Write your letter or letters, there's no limit to how many you can do!

3. Take a video or picture of your letter encouraging others to join and share on social media using tagging @incommunityga

4. Mail your letter!

Mail Your Letters

• InCommunity

  3301 BUCKEYE RD, SUITE 700

  ATLANTA, GA 30341

  ATTN: Daniel David

Letter Writing Tips

• Start with a salutation, such as "Dear friend” or “Greetings”

• Share a personal message with an individual in our home: “You are not alone. We are in this together” or “Hang in there. We hope you are safe and healthy.”

• Please avoid glitter or additional items in the envelope.

• Please mail all letters to address provided above.

• Purchase and print stamps from home or have them delivered from the US Postal Service.

Help the Visually Impaired with Be My Eyes

Be My Eyes is a free mobile app with one main goal: to make the world more accessible for blind and low-vision people. The app connects blind and low-vision individuals with sighted volunteers and companies from all over the world through a live video call.

How it Works

1. Someone who is visually impaired and in need of assistance will open the open and make their request. 

2. Volunteers will get a notification on their phone with details about the request and the support needed.

3. Volunteers can respond to the request with a video call (think Skype or Facetime) and solve the problem in real-time.

Translate with Tarjimly

The Tarjimly mobile app allows the world’s 3 billion multilingual speakers to remotely volunteer their language skills as translators and interpreters for the 65 million displaced people. Today, it is the most accessible translator service in the world.

How it Works

1. A refugee or someone who needs a translator or interpreter uses the Tarjimly app to make their request for assistance in the language needed. 

2. Volunteers will get a notification on their phone if their languages match, with details about the request and the support needed.

3. Volunteers can respond to the request with a live chat session where they can send text, voice notes, documents, or even get on a live phone call.

#FlattenTheCurve and Download How We Feel

How We Feel lets you self-report your age, sex, ZIP code, and any health symptoms you experience. It only takes 30 seconds!

Aggregate data is securely shared with select scientists, doctors and public health professionals who are actively working to stop the spread of COVID-19. The app doesn't ask you to sign in or share your name, phone number or email address.

The first time you download the app and donate your data with a check-in, we'll donate a meal to people in need through Feeding America—up to 10 million meals.

How can I get involved?

‍Apply to be a scientific collaborator
‍collaboration@howwefeel.org

Volunteer or join
‍volunteer@howwefeel.org

Make PPE for Health Care Providers

Join Atlanta Beats COVID,  an ad-hoc group of volunteer makers, engineers, fabricators, seamsters, and other Atlanta-area industry experts that are working to provide our hard-working healthcare providers and other vital members of our community with the necessary PPE that they need to stay safe while battling COVID-19 

Atlanta Beats COVID is recruiting the following types of volunteers and donations:

• Volunteers to Make/Print Face Shields

• Volunteers to Sew Face Masks and Gowns

• Volunteers for Cutting and/or Assembly of Face Shields (4 hour shifts available around metro-Atlanta)

• Drivers for Pick-up and Drop-off Materials and Completed Product  

• Materials Donation

• Logistics Support

Check out approved patterns here: https://www.atlantabeatscovid.com/diy   

Support GA Department of Public Health | SERVGA

Be part of a national initiative to assist emergency response and public safety organizations during a disaster with SERVGA – the program that alleviates issues associated with non-certified and spontaneous volunteerism through an innovative pre-credentialing system. 

This is a great volunteer opportunity through the Georgia Department of Public Health with the following objectives:

• Whether you are a health care provider, an administrative specialist, a retired professional – anyone ready to help in your community – Georgia needs you.            

• Learn how you can make a difference no matter what your skillset or credentials. Some volunteers provide licensed medical services and administrative support, while others lend their special talents or skills as interpreters, community planners, computer experts and more.

• Gain career-enhancing experience and, if you’re eligible, stay current with valuable continuing education credits, free training, and sovereign immunity during your service.