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

1. Students sign up for virtual office hours via their virtual scholarship center account

2. 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

Hands On Atlanta and Sock Fancy Partner to Giveaway 50,000 Masks

In an effort to stop the spread of Covid-19, Sock Fancy and Hands On Atlanta will donate 50,000 non-surgical, protective masks to metro Atlanta community organizations.

Atlanta, GA -- Sock Fancy and Hands On Atlanta will distribute at least 50,000 non-surgical protective masks to metro Atlanta nonprofits, schools, and community organizations in need. The partnership was sparked through Sock Fancy’s timely pivot from making custom socks to making protective masks to meet the urgent demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. Through their pivot, Sock Fancy launched a “One-for-One” campaign, promising to donate 1 mask for every mask purchased. With the state of Georgia reopening, the need for every member of our community to be able to protect themselves (and each other) has never been higher.

“We recognized our ability to help our [Atlanta] community as soon as we heard of the urgent demand for PPE from healthcare and nonprofit organizations across the country. We knew our staff and manufacturers would rise to the occasion to get the masks produced. Partnering with Hands On Atlanta to distribute the masks to our communities’ most vulnerable has made it possible for us to fulfill our “One for One” commitment” said Stefan Lewinger, Co-founder and CEO of Sock Fancy.

During the initial phase of their Covid-19 relief efforts, Hands On Atlanta focused on fighting food insecurity with Atlanta Public Schools and the Atlanta Community Food Bank. They also created a resource where Atlantans could find opportunities to serve in-person (utilizing social distancing) or virtually from home. As relief turns into recovery, they’ll continue to provide volunteer opportunities while shifting to meet the growing needs of the community. Food assistance, workforce development, voting, and access to PPE are among the core focus points of the next phase in their efforts.

“We’ve heard from our nonprofit and community partners that staff and client safety is their top priority. So, when the team from Sock Fancy called us to see if we could help with their distribution efforts, we dove in head first,” said Jay Cranman, President and CEO of Hands On Atlanta.  

The partnership is already off to a great start. Over 4,000  masks have been donated to the Atlanta Police Department for distribution to those experiencing homelessness in downtown Atlanta.

“As has been said many times throughout the course of this pandemic, we are truly in this together and are grateful for your partnership, particularly in service to those who are most vulnerable among us,” said Tammy Hughes, Social Impact Director for Atlanta Downtown Improvement District/Central Atlanta Progress.

For more information on this partnership and to apply to get masks for your nonprofit, community organization, or school visit the Hands On Atlanta website at https://www.handsonatlanta.org/masks.

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