Sarina Marsh on making connections and making an impact

Sarina Marsh is a dynamic and enthusiastic volunteer in Atlanta, who is making a positive impact in her community through her involvement with various nonprofit organizations. With her passion for education and youth development, Sarina is making a difference in the lives of Atlanta's next generation. In this volunteer spotlight, Sarina shares how volunteering is not just about giving back, it's also about connecting with like-minded individuals, exploring the city she loves, and finding joy in making a meaningful difference.

"I believe that education is the key to unlocking opportunities for our youth and improving our community's future," says Sarina. "Volunteering allows me to contribute towards this cause and make a tangible impact on the lives of young people."

As a member of the Junior League of Atlanta, Sarina is excited about the opportunities it provides for her to connect, serve her community, and grow alongside other service-minded women. She also serves as a Board Member with the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network Atlanta, where she finds fulfillment in building a community and supporting professionals in the nonprofit sector.

"Being a part of these organizations has allowed me to meet amazing people who share my passion for giving back, and it's been an incredible journey of personal and professional growth," says Sarina.

Volunteering has not only impacted Sarina's personal life, but also her professional life. As a Volunteer Manager with Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia, she has honed her skills in communication, collaboration, and interpersonal relationships. She believes that volunteering has reinforced her belief in the importance of positive youth development and education beyond the classroom.

“Volunteering reminds me to stay humble and to do good even when there is no audience.””

— Sarina Marsh

"Volunteering reminds me to stay humble and to do good even when there is no audience. It has also influenced my work with Junior Achievement, where I strive to provide volunteers with a best-in-class experience," shares Sarina.

One of Sarina's most memorable volunteer experiences was during the 2020-2021 school year, when she served as a Monday Reading Program volunteer through the United Way. She recalls a heartwarming moment when she witnessed a student she had been paired with earlier in the year read aloud with confidence and ease.

"That experience reminded me of the importance of consistency, showing up for others, and the joy of giving your time to something you're passionate about," says Sarina with a smile.

Apart from her volunteer work, Sarina also loves Atlanta for its diversity in food, activities, and entertainment. She is a self-proclaimed Beltline regular and a food hall advocate, with Chattahoochee Food Works being her current obsession. She enjoys exploring the city like a tourist, visiting the High Museum Frequency Fridays, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Ponce City Market, and Piedmont Park for walks or festivals. According to Sarina, Atlanta has something for everyone.

“Think about what brings you joy and what you’re passionate about, and research nonprofits whose work aligns with that. Hands on Atlanta is a great resource for finding daily volunteer opportunities.””

— Sarina Marsh

For those interested in getting involved with volunteering, Sarina has some valuable advice: "Think about what brings you joy and what you're passionate about, and research nonprofits whose work aligns with that. Hands on Atlanta is a great resource for finding daily volunteer opportunities."

As April is Financial Literacy Month, Sarina encourages others to join her in volunteering at Junior Achievement's JA Discovery Centers, where volunteers can make a difference in middle school students' lives through programs focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness. She invites everyone to visit georgia.ja.org/volunteer to find opportunities at a JA Discovery Center near them, and if they volunteer downtown, she looks forward to seeing you!

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Feeling inspired by Sarina’s amazing volunteer work?

You can help others like her continue to make a positive impact in our community by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta, where every $1 donated turns into $6 of economic impact. Click here to donate now.

Spreading Joy and Making a Difference with Mary Catherine Pelham

Mary Catherine Pelham is a force of good in Atlanta, spreading joy and making a difference through her volunteer work with various nonprofits. She is a 2023 Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellow, serving with HOPE Atlanta. In this Volunteer Spotlight, Mary Catherine shares her passion for volunteering, the impact it has had on her personal and professional life, and why Atlanta holds a special place in her heart.

When asked about her favorite part of volunteering, Mary Catherine exclaims, "I love seeing the direct impact on an individual or family." She volunteers with organizations such as Paws Between Homes, where she helps reunite pets with their owners after they have secured better housing, and Meals on Wheels, where she brings a friendly face to seniors who may not have anyone else checking in on them. For Mary Catherine, volunteering is a way to take care of each other as a community, a responsibility she takes to heart.

“Volunteering gives me perspective, joy, and a purpose.” ”

— Mary Catherine Pelham

Volunteering has always been a significant part of Mary Catherine's life, even from childhood. She describes how it has given her perspective, joy, and a sense of purpose. Through volunteering, she has connected with people outside of her regular social circle and gained empathy and compassion towards those facing challenges that she may not experience herself. Mary Catherine is also passionate about inspiring others to volunteer and find their own passion in giving back to the community.

Mary Catherine believes that volunteering should be fun and impactful for everyone involved. She recalls receiving follow-up texts and emails from volunteers thanking her for hosting events and expressing their interest in getting more involved. This motivates her to continue sharing the amazing opportunities that Atlanta has to offer and inspiring others to join the cause. Mary Catherine believes that the more people who are inspired to volunteer and make a difference, the better the city of Atlanta will be as a whole.

Mary Catherine's love for Atlanta is evident as she gushes about the city's culture, arts, food, diversity, sports, and nature. She chose Atlanta to be her home because of the abundance of things to see and do, and she is committed to contributing to keeping it a great city in every way possible. From visiting new exhibits at the High Museum to trying out new restaurants, Mary Catherine enjoys the vibrant and dynamic atmosphere of Atlanta.

“Volunteering in Atlanta is great because there are so many different types of services to be involved with.””

— Mary Catherine Pelham

When asked for advice to those interested in getting involved in volunteering, Mary Catherine shares her excitement about the diverse range of service opportunities in Atlanta. She recommends starting with Hands On Atlanta. From direct service to behind-the-scenes work, and from group activities to individual efforts, there is something for everyone in Atlanta's volunteering scene.

Mary Catherine's upcoming volunteer events include HOPE Atlanta's food packing program and delivering Meals on Wheels on a Saturday mornings.

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Feeling inspired by Mary Catherine’s s amazing volunteer work?

You can help others like her continue to make a positive impact in our community by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta, where every $1 donated turns into $6 of economic impact. Click here to donate now.

Mecca Mcrae benefits personally and professionally by volunteering

Winston Churchill famously said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." Mecca McCrae embodies this quote by giving her time and energy to a variety of organizations in Atlanta, including Hosea Helps, Hands On Atlanta, High Museum, Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta, and the Fox Theater.

Mecca's passion for volunteering started when she was looking for ways to help financially insecure people. She found 4Hosea.org and loved how they touched the lives of so many people in need. "I love to see people share their stories that they are volunteering because Hosea helped them during their time of crisis," she shared.

But Mecca doesn't stop there - she also volunteers as the co-chair of the volunteer committee for Susan G. Komen to support families who have lost loved ones to breast cancer. "Supporting Komen makes me feel like I can help someone to continue sharing the wonderful lives of their loved ones," she said.

“Volunteering has taught me to have a more inclusive tone when I speak to people. It makes me take a mental pause to think about what I am saying, and if what I am going to say will bring peace to someone in need of a simple hug or listening ear.””

— Mecca McRae

Mecca's volunteer work has not only impacted her personal life but also her professional life. "Volunteering has definitely given me exposure to high-level executives from different walks of life. They know that I am dependable and reliable through my actions," she says. In addition, Mecca has honed her skills in inclusivity and learned to be a better listener. "Volunteering has taught me to have a more inclusive tone when I speak to people. It makes me take a mental pause to think about what I am saying, and if what I am going to say will bring peace to someone in need of a simple hug or listening ear."

One of Mecca's most memorable moments as a volunteer was when she created a volunteer opportunity for her team at UPS, and she received another member who asked to keep in touch for her next event. "I make all of my events memorable by sharing my story for volunteering with the organization and I make sure that I let them know that I genuinely appreciate their time and dedication," she said.

As for Atlanta, Mecca loves how the city has grown and changed over the years. From the Westin Peachtree Plaza being the tallest building to the National Center for Civil & Human Rights being built, Atlanta has become a place of endless opportunities. "There are so many wonderful reasons why I love this city and will never give up on it," she said.

“The only time that you should look down on a person is when you are helping them up,” ”

— Mecca McRae

If you're interested in volunteering, Mecca advises finding your passion and researching organizations before volunteering. And if you want to volunteer with her, keep an eye out for events at the Fox Theater - although they are closed for 2023, they send out volunteer invites the first week of February.

Mecca's commitment to volunteering is truly inspiring, and she encourages everyone to volunteer their time to help build our community. "The only time that you should look down on a person is when you are helping them up," she said.

So let's follow Mecca's example and make a difference in our community.

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Feeling inspired by Mecca's amazing volunteer work?

You can help others like her continue to make a positive impact in our community by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta, where every $1 donated turns into $6 of economic impact. Click here to donate now.

Become a Force of Nature in a Local Park with Park Pride

During a recent catch-up with Park Pride, we got a glimpse into what it takes to take care of 250 parks in the Atlanta and DeKalb area. With Earth Day right around the corner on April 22, 2023, Hands On Atlanta has our Sustainability work at top of mind, and our local parks are a huge part of that work. Parks are not only natural habitats for plants, trees and small creatures, but they’re crucial gathering spots for our communities, that we all have a responsibility to take care of.

We popped by a Saturday morning volunteer day over at Herbert Taylor Daniel Johnson Park, and got to chat with Ellen Bruenderman, Director or Community Services, and Joanna Patterson, Volunteer Associate – read on to find out how Park Pride leverages volunteers.

TL;DR – Sign up here to volunteer + support the nearest greenspace or nature center to you.

Claire, Hands On Atlanta: Ellen, I’m starting simple… talk to us about Park Pride’s philosophy on the ‘power of parks’. I love this phrase I found on your website. What does it mean to you all?

Ellen, Park Pride: Our mission is to engage communities to activate the power of parks, and one of the things we like about that is that it conversation, because the power of a park means something different to everyone. For me, the power is that parks are places for people to connect in lots of ways. People can connect with nature, with their roots, their neighborhood, their place, and with others their community. It’s a place for neighbors to meet each other and come together.

Claire: I like that concept of connectivity, both human and natural – it’s a great way to say that parks are more than a safe home for plants and trees.

Ellen: Yeah, and even in an urban world, parks connect habitats, so it’s not too fragmented and our natural neighbors can also live here with us.

Claire: Now let’s get into the work you all do, every day. We know there are hundreds of parks that y’all support – what does that look like? How do you do it??

“These are people who care a lot, and put a lot of energy into their neighborhoods.”

— Ellen Bruenderman, Park Pride

 Ellen: We do our work through partnership with communities. We could not do this work without our Friends of the Parks groups. We work with a network of over 130 registered groups – and we know there are others, it’s really closer to 150 – and those are all volunteer-led groups. They give their time and energy to care for their local parks, just like Marti is doing today, leading volunteers to remove invasive species at Herbert Taylor Daniel Johnson Park. They advocate for resources, fundraise, and transform parks to reflect the character and needs of the surrounding community. These are people who care a lot, and put a lot of energy into their neighborhoods. And we support them with our programs and resources.

Claire: And what do you mean by programs and resources?

Ellen: It can mean a lot of things. Some resources apply across the network, like workshops, networking opportunities, and bringing Friends groups into our own thought leadership programming like our annual conference, which is a regional greenspace learning opportunity. We also offer individual group guidance and consultation. We have a grant program that helps make capital improvements possible. Our Park Visioning department does planning and design services – it’s comprehensive facilitation, and relies heavily on community input. And, we’re announcing a new leadership program soon – our Park Stewardship Academy, which will offer deep dives into technical expertise for Friends group members.

Claire: That’s awesome – having community members inform park features, based on their unique needs, totally goes back to that original sentiment of connectivity. Switching gears – talk to us about the importance of volunteerism in the parks.

Joanna, Park Pride: Now that we’re more in person, we’re focused more on volunteerism as a stronger resource for Friends groups. This is individuals corporate and civic groups, and more – it can make a huge difference to have a surge of volunteerism with a large group, to make a dent at what sometimes feels like endless work to do to maintain the parks. Matching these groups and volunteers up with parks is always a win.

Ellen: We have some really strong Friends groups that lead their own workdays, and just need more hands to get the work done – and one resource we provide them with is Hands On Atlanta, to help them recruit volunteers. These Friends groups typically are doing regular work days and know how to coordinate and manage a project. They’ve got tools and know what to do – they just need more people to accomplish the goal.

Claire: So, how could I get involved with my local park and Friends group? And what about Earth Day – it’s right around the corner on April 22nd, 2023!

Ellen: Most projects are Hands On – we regularly host Greener Good Days, which are open to all volunteers. We have one coming up for Earth Day! And of course, you can get outside and volunteer with one of our Friends of the Parks groups. For volunteers able to make a longer commitment, the Friends groups have behind-the-scenes needs like communications, flyering, raising awareness as well as projects to complete in the parks. We’re just finishing up our new directory of Friends groups – it’s on our website. You can find specific parks and groups and join from there.

Joanna: For Earth Day, we’re partnering with Trees Atlanta – they’re doing invasive removals, and we’re focusing on trash pick up in Stone Hogan Park! That’s Saturday, April 22nd, and you can sign up here. This park was identified on the City of Atlanta’s new data equity tool, and that’s why we chose it. This tool helps prioritize parks that have not received a lot of investment and are in areas of town with greater inequity. Stone Hogan was near the top of that list, and so we’re working with our Friends group there to make this day happen. It'll be really impactful.

Snapper Freeman is a man on a mission

Snapper Freeman is a man with a heart for volunteering and a passion for making a difference. Snapper proudly serves as a 2023 Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellow, leading projects with their Discovery program. He’s also the Community Relationship Manager for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the founder of Community Service Redirect, and the Chair of the Fan Ambassador Program for the Chick fil-A Peach Bowl.

But what impact areas or pressing needs facing Atlanta does Snapper care about most? Atlanta's youth and pancreatic cancer. Snapper's work has taken him into underserved communities where he has seen the disadvantages youth experience. He firmly believes that there is no reason why these youth shouldn't have the opportunities in life that everyone else does. This led him to create Community Service Redirect, which recognizes and rewards students in Clayton County for making a positive impact in their community.

But Snapper's passion doesn't stop there. He is also committed to fighting pancreatic cancer, which is a disease that only has a 12% five-year survival rate. "If we have 100 people in the room and ask 88 to leave, those 12 people left would be representative of our five-year survival rate," he explains. He started volunteering with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network after seeing one of his mentors, a perfectly healthy track coach, pass away from the disease in less than three months. Snapper believes that more work needs to be done to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer and to find a cure.

“Volunteering introduced an industry and world to me that I did not know existed. It is work I believe in and can see is needed,””

— Snapper Freeman

So, what does Snapper love most about the organizations he volunteers with? "The organizations I volunteer with are actively making a difference in our communities. You are able to see how your work translates and actually helps people in a positive way," he says.

Volunteering has had a significant impact on Snapper's personal and professional life. "Volunteering introduced an industry and world to me that I did not know existed. It is work I believe in and can see is needed," he shares. Through his experience as a volunteer, Snapper has honed his skills in servant leadership. He believes that you do not always need to be in charge or have a title to make a difference.

When asked to share a memorable moment from his volunteering experience, Snapper recalls a Saturday afternoon at Usher Collier's Discovery Program. "A parent pulled into the parking lot, with tires screeching like something out of a movie. The student had gotten on the bus to get to school, and their older sibling didn't relay the message. Could the parent really be upset? Their kid was coming to school on a Saturday, and they said they would get there whether their parent got up to take them or not. This was a reminder that these students could be anywhere in the world, doing anything at all, but they wanted to be at school on a Saturday. If you get a chance, please make sure to volunteer with the Discovery program!"

“I believe if we’re going to change the world, it starts with changing your community.””

— Snapper Freeman

When asked why Atlanta, Snapper explains that although he was born and raised in Houston, Atlanta has become home. "Atlanta has a culture and swag that others want to replicate. When you see people Swag Surfin' across the country, it's because they wish they were in the A!" he jokes.

So, what advice does Snapper have for someone who is interested in getting involved with volunteering? "Make an impact. Big or small, make an impact. Something you consider very small or meaningless could mean the world to another, and you never know how far your help goes. You always hear ‘one person can change the world’, but I believe if we're going to change the world, it starts with changing your community. Changing our community is how we change the world.

You can volunteer alongside Snapper on April 29th at PurpleStride Atlanta to help raise awareness for Pancreatic Cancer.

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Feeling inspired by Snapper's amazing volunteer work?

You can help others like him continue to make a positive impact in our community by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta, where every $1 donated turns into $6 of economic impact. Click here to donate now.

Pam Sidhi on Making Service Fun for the Whole Family

Today, we're shining a light on Pam Sidhi, a 2023 Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellow and local volunteer who is dedicated to making a difference in her city!

Pam is a devoted volunteer who spends her free time helping out with a variety of organizations, including Hands On Atlanta, Scouting, Mustang Volunteer Support, Atlanta Food Bank, St. Paul Vincent Thrift Store & Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC). When we asked Pam about the impact areas or pressing needs facing Atlanta that she cares about most, she shared that it's all about creating communities that work for all ages and abilities.

"As a legal immigrant, I have witnessed the need for a community to support the growing need for food insecurity and improve educational outcomes," she explained.

Pam's passion for volunteering is palpable, and she loves partnering with nonprofits that provide safety and security for the volunteers who lead or participate as individuals. "For example, as a stay-at-home mom, I can experience volunteering in organizations that are welcoming and open to ideas that I share which have improved the experience. I have not felt I could not go alone to make the change," she shared.

“I learned that you need a mind and a heart with 4 hours a week to make a change...” ”

— Pam Sidhi

Volunteering has impacted Pam's personal and professional life in so many positive ways. It's allowed her to see the challenges facing the community and work alongside other like-minded volunteers to make a difference. "I learned that you need a mind and a heart with 4 hours a week to make a change. I’m also very proud to serve along with my little one growing up to be a servant leader in the community," she shared.

When asked to share a memorable highlight or moment from her volunteering experience, Pam had an inspiring story to tell. "I believe that age does not matter when you volunteer. My experience was seeing my little one not waste food after we visited the Atlanta Community Food Bank. We plan to return to all the nonprofits we volunteered for last year," she said.

So, what advice does Pam have for others who are interested in getting involved with volunteering? "Give it a try. Please do not give up on volunteering for one bitter person who attended the event. You are needed. A huge 'Thank You' if you show up for an event because you made a difference," she added.

Pam is currently helping with a food pantry distribution for Clarkson Community Center on April 8th. This project is full, but if you're interested in supporting, you can find the Amazon wishlist to contribute here. You can also visit the Hands On Atlanta website and sign up for the next event in May.

As we wrap up our chat with Pam, we asked her why she loves Atlanta and some of her favorite things about the city. "Atlanta - the City of Coke and the Olympic city. Of course, for me, my little one was born here. We have lived here for fourteen years, evolving into a melting pot of the south. We have seen it grow and learned to adapt to the ever-changing world," she shared.

Finally, Pam wants to remind everyone that it's her birthday on April 7th, and she encourages the community to take notice of the good work that people are doing to help each other during these challenging times. "We are recovering from the pandemic and have lost so many lives. It would be great if you smiled as you passed by or if you noticed someone doing a good deed - please say, 'Good work'."

Happy birthday, Pam!

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Feeling inspired by Pam's amazing volunteer work?

You can help others like her continue to make a positive impact in our community by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta, where every $1 donated turns into $6 of economic impact. Click here to donate now.

Tracy Dansby On the Power of Love

Tracy Dansby is a 2023 Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellow and Georgia Peach who loves serving the community both locally and globally. She is impactful and passionate towards all things for the "Beloved Community" and volunteerism.  Tracy regularly serves with Hands On Atlanta, Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Reflections of Trinity and in her Grove Park community. Last year, Tracy served over 200 hours and is on track to surpass that mark this year!

In this spotlight, Tracy discusses the pressing needs facing Atlanta, why she volunteers with the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, and how volunteering has impacted her life.

Tracy is particularly passionate about Atlanta's youth and the urgent need to support them. She says, "We are ‘losing our youth,' figuratively and literally." Tracy highlights the fact that many children in Atlanta don't have access to basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, and water. "We have children in the ATL waking up every day, rushing to schools for food because the last meal eaten was at school," she explains. Tracy is deeply committed to addressing this issue by volunteering and donating to organizations that combat food insecurity.

Tracy is also a passionate advocate for the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia (SCFG), where she volunteers regularly. Her oldest daughter was born with sickle cell trait, and Tracy says that the foundation played an essential role in calming her fears and providing classes and resources that helped her family on their journey. She praises the foundation for advocating, investing, and fighting to help individuals living with sickle cell disease live as normal a life as possible. Tracy says, "I will continually volunteer with SCFG because of their love for kids dealing with this health crisis and the community."

“To a person in need, there is nothing greater than the power of LOVE.””

— Tracy Dansby

Volunteering has had a significant impact on Tracy's life. She describes it as her "best side hustle, the gift that keeps on giving." Tracy says that volunteering keeps her humble, creative, eager, energetic, grounded, and rooted. She says it challenges her, holds her accountable, and makes her happy.

When asked about advice for anyone interested in getting started in service, Tracy shared her guiding principles derived from Dr. King, who said, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve… and if I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody, he’s living wrong, then my living will not be in vain.”

Through her experience as a volunteer, Tracy agrees with Mother Teresa, "..for the smile is the beginning of love." Tracy says, "To a person in need, there is nothing greater than the power of love." Tracy has honed her skills in empathy, compassion, and understanding. She has also learned how to work collaboratively with others to achieve common goals.

“Atlanta, the city where we swag different and brag different. That’s my city!””

— Tracy Dansby

On Atlanta, well, she says, “I love this city because we are the most influential city in the United States, and we embrace and LOVE everybody. Adding, “Atlanta, the city where we swag different and brag different. That’s my city!”

You can harness your own power of love and join Tracy on April 22nd for a fun project at Reflections of Trinity called, Smiles on Jelly Bean Day!

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Feeling inspired by Tracy's amazing volunteer work?

You can help others like her continue to make a positive impact in our community by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta, where every $1 donated turns into $6 of economic impact. Click here to donate now.

Volunteers are Improving Patient Recovery with Grady Food As Medicine

Through Hands On Atlanta’s special partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, we’re able to support some really strong nonprofits focused on food insecurity. While many organizations focus on keeping bellies full, one special partner – Grady Food As Medicine – is taking a different approach. Their unique program is designed to ensure patients with chronic illnesses have their nutritional needs met, in an affordable way, which is absolutely crucial to their recovery.

We got to chat with Jasmynne Blacks, Food Pharmacy Manager of the Grady Food As Medicine program, to learn more about how they’re helping patients recover in a holistic way, and how volunteers keep the program up and running.

Sign up here to volunteer + support Grady’s Food As Medicine program.

Claire, Hands On Atlanta: Serving with the Grady Food as Medicine program has been a favorite of our volunteers since you all became a Hands On Atlanta partner a couple of years ago. But this is my first time visiting you in person! What’s the story here, where are we?

Jasmynne, Grady Food As Medicine: This is the Jesse Hill Market! This was a vision that Grady employees had, for the space to become a place of wellness for both patients and employees. We realized that about 50% of our patients are food insecure. Meaning, they’re struggling with access to food, especially fresh produce. And with our background in nutrition, we understand the need for patients to have access to this food, and also the resources and knowledge. Patients are referred to us from Main Grady, after being screened for food insecurity + a few chronic illnesses that would qualify them for participation in the year-long program. We don’t want to just provide food and expect them to figure the nutritional aspects out on their own, we want to give them tools + resources to be successful. Patients attend cooking classes, nutrition classes and also pick up from the Food Pharmacy. During the classes, they learn how to cook to produce and how to become an advocate for themselves – learning their numbers and how to set goals.

“We don’t want to just provide food, and expect them to figure the nutritional aspects out on their own.”

Claire: ‘Prescribing food’ seems like a natural compliment to prescribing medicine and a physical therapy routine, but I haven’t heard of it before. How has it made an impact on patients? Can you speak to results or recovery rates at this point?

Jasmynne: Yes, it’s huge! This is what keeps us going, hearing patient stories. Tomorrow we actually have a graduation! It’s a time to celebrate patients who made a year long commitment to changing their life. Many of them are breaking habits they’ve had for 50, 60 years. We measure things like A1C – certain rates lead to a lot of complications like heart disease, kidney disease and other risk factors. We’ve seen this go down from 10.5 to 5.5. We’ve seen patients be able to go off blood pressure medications. Some have been able to reduce insulin, as their blood sugar goes down. Classes can get emotional as patients reflect back on where they started. Many patients and employees are not just changing their own diet habits, but also those of their families. It’s a big impact.

Claire: You all need about 160 volunteers per month to manage distributions across 4 locations in the city, right? What’s the experience like for a volunteer?

Jasmynne: It’s our 3rd year of running this program, and this program would not run without volunteers. We really mean it! Hands on Atlanta has been pivotal in our program continuing to run, and all volunteer opportunities can be found here. Here at Jesse Hill, we’ve got the Food Pharmacy, and at neighboring clinics we’ve got the Fresh Food Carts. The Fresh Food Carts are massive food distributions in one day, through a partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank. These are monthly, at Asa Yancey, Brookhaven, and Ponce – we get lots of produce, and our volunteers are bagging and distributing food. The Food Pharmacy is similar, but food is distributed multiple days weekly. We put together about 150 bags of food every Wednesday. We have fun in the Food Pharmacy, and keep the energy up with a great playlist! Grady employees help out here a lot, too. We currently have about 500 patients in the program, who pick up weekly!, but we’re only a staff of 5, so volunteers are so crucial.

Claire: Oh, wow. And then on top of that, you all also have the Teaching Kitchen here at the Jesse Hill Market.

Jasmynne: The Teaching Kitchen is where patients take classes – and they correlate with available produce at the Food Pharmacy and Fresh Food Carts. Patients get a demonstration and then they’re actually cooking on their own skillet, learning about seasonings and ingredients and modifications. Volunteers are super interactive with patients here, and there’s a required Orientation first. Sometimes there’s 10-15 patients in a class, and it can be a lot for our one teacher to ensure everyone is following along and being safe – so volunteers make a big impact at classes.

Claire: Anything exciting on the horizon for Grady Food As Medicine?

Jasmynne: We’re working on expanding the program! We really want to zone in more on food insecure patients and employees, even those who aren’t affected by the chronic illnesses we’re currently working with.

Claire: Last question… what’s your favorite recipe taught in the Teaching Kitchen?

Jasmynne: Black bean brownies! We were not believers, but then we tried it! They are SO good!