Thousands of volunteers pack 1.5 million meals for families across Metro Atlanta

On Saturday, September 9, 2023 the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm gathered 5,000 volunteers at the award-winning State Farm Arena to pack more than one million meals as part of the 2023 Million Meal Pack! Volunteers were joined by Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman, Hawks and State Farm Arena Chief Executive Officer Steve Koonin, State Farm Senior Vice President Dan Krause, NBA Hall of Famer and Hawks Legend Dominique Wilkins, Hawks Forward Jalen Johnson and a few other special guests who shared heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers who devoted their time to support the team’s largest single-day community service effort of the year. 

Individuals, families, community groups, schools, churches, businesses and more congregated on the arena floor to pack the meals. Together with volunteers from U.S. Hunger and executives from both the Hawks and State Farm, they collectively achieved an impressive total of 1,020,672 meals packed.

“The Million Meal Pack was once again an incredible event, with thousands of volunteers coming together to help our Atlanta neighbors struggling with food insecurity,” said Dan Krause, Senior Vice President at State Farm. “We were proud to bring together local State Farm agents, employees and community volunteers to make a meaningful difference. We appreciate everyone who participated and give thanks to the Atlanta Hawks for our ongoing partnership in giving back and strengthening our communities.”

The packed meals will be distributed throughout the metro Atlanta area with the operational support of U.S. Hunger, a hunger relief organization with innovative programs designed to help feed people struggling with food insecurity. Additionally, 12 other local organizations will help distribute the meals including Atlanta Community Food Bank, Community Assistance Center, Fountain of Hope, Georgia State University Panther’s Pantry, Goodr, Hope Atlanta, Latin American Association, Midwest Food Bank, Meals On Wheels Atlanta, North Fulton Community Charities, Second Helpings and the Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta. 

On the following Monday, September 11, 2023, seventeen cities across the country observed the 22nd 9/11 of Remembrance, packing meals for their local communities. In total, more than 6.5 million meals were packed by more than 10,000 volunteers.

Here in Atlanta, Mayor Andre Dickens, several current and former Atlanta Falcons (including our old friend Freddie) joined close to 1,000 volunteers to pack more than 350,000 meals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“Today we are packing between 350,000 meals, it’s all going to be oatmeal. It’s going to be distributed to our partners at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and then they are going to help distribute it to all the food pantries in the metro Atlanta region,” said Jay Cranman, CEO of Hands On Atlanta.

One of the volunteers, Alesha Bell shared, “This is a perfect way to give back and remember the lives lost on 9/11. But also feeding the community is important, it helps us thrive.”

Thank you’s and high-fives to all of our support staff volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make all of this incredible impact happen! If you want to get involved and do something about food insecurity, click the button below to find an opportunity near you.

Spring has officially been served!

The 2023 Hands On Atlanta Spring for Service was bigger and more impactful than ever! Throughout April 2023, 4,000 people served 13,000 hours at more than 1,000 projects across metro Atlanta.

We joined thousands of nonprofits across the globe to celebrate marquee, national days of service like Earth Day, Good Deeds Day, Global Youth Service Day and National Volunteer Week. Here in Atlanta, we activated a few of our corporate partners, mobilizing hundreds of volunteers from Change Healthcare, Jackson EMC and LexisNexis Risk Solutions. We also celebrated the end of the school year with students and families at our Discovery pop-up, we joined 48in48 for their “Women’s Build Event, attended a “Community Engagement Breakfast and Learn” with the Atlanta Braves, joined Mayor Dickens and the City of Atlanta for a press conference with some updates and progress on their “Operation Clean Sweep” initiative, and a few members of our team attended an evening with the Atlanta Education Policy Leaders.

The 2023 Spring for Service wasn’t just about impactful events and volunteer projects, in celebration of Global Volunteer Month, we also shined a light on more than 20 incredible volunteers and organizations doing the work! Get to know a few of these inspirational community leaders below or click here to check out all of our stories of service!

Huge, meaningful events and volunteer recognition wasn’t the only impact we supported throughout our Spring for Service. Led by sponsors Publix, Southern Company and The Larocco Companies, along with our board of directors, more than 300 donors contributed to our fundraiser to support Atlanta’s next generation. The month ended with us a little shy of our goal, but the good news is you can still participate to make a difference in the future of our city!

Your donation to our fundraiser will support strategic programming and community engagement efforts to fulfill on our commitment to youth. That could mean more nonprofits participating in our Educational Equity or Food Security programming, more AmeriCorpsmembers tutoring and coaching students, or even more students enrolled in our Discoveryprogram. Your donation could also inspire more conversations (and more action) about affordable housing or providing more safe green spaces for kids to play and learn.

Did you see or hear Hands On Atlanta throughout April? We appeared live on Scripps News Morning Rush, Atlanta Born & Brand published a podcast and video interview with our President and CEO, Jay Cranman, our friends at the Rough Draft gave us a shout, and Points of Light had some nice things to say about our Spring for Service on their blog. Points of Light also recognized one of our volunteer spotlights, Dylan Pace, with a Daily Point of Light Award!

Global Volunteer Month was a huge success. We engaged, connected, learned, shared, inspired, and invested in a more engaged and equitable Atlanta. Thank you for joining us and we look forward to seeing you back, serving, sharing or donating this summer!

AmeriCorps Spotlight: Hannah Jo Huling

This month, we’re excited to shine a light on Hannah Jo Huling, a tutor at Scott Elementary who has been making an immediate impact in the lives of her students. Hannah Jo is the real deal when it comes to showing up authentically and building strong relationships with students, teachers, and leadership at Scott Elementary. Her work ethic has not gone unnoticed and she’s received endless compliments from the team at Scott.

When we sat down with Hannah Jo, we asked her about her AmeriCorps experience, her love for Atlanta, and her plans for the future. We were blown away by her passion and dedication to making a difference in the communities she serves.

Hannah Jo found AmeriCorps through her Internship course at Georgia Gwinnett College. She was drawn to the opportunity to work with kids in the Atlanta community, and before she knew it, she was calling for more information. She loves working with the passionate and energetic students at Scott Elementary, and the way they react when she walks into the classroom is priceless.

When we asked Hannah Jo about what she hopes to gain from this experience, she shared that she planned on gaining a lot of experience working with children from the Atlanta community, and to say she did is an understatement. This opportunity has shown her that she is in the correct field of work.

Looking towards the future, Hannah Jo has a lot of high hopes for the next five years. She sees herself married, maybe working on starting a family, and working as a social worker or counselor for child welfare. Additionally, she hopes to be an author of her first book.

When Hannah Jo is not mentoring or tutoring, she loves to go shopping or running errands in the rain. That's right, rain or shine, Hannah Jo is out there connecting with nature as a form of self-care. We love her positive attitude!

Lastly, we asked Hannah Jo what she loves about Atlanta. She shared that Atlanta is full of so much culture and respect. She loves the community, even when there is a struggle to find unity, they always find their way back to what it means to be a thriving and passionate city. Shoutout to Chattahoochee food works for the amazing food, The High for the most beautiful pieces of art, and the many delicious coffee shops. We couldn't agree more, Hannah Jo!

We are so grateful for Hannah Jo's dedication and commitment towards making a difference in the communities we serve. She truly embodies what it means to be an AmeriCorps member, and we can't wait to see where her bright future takes her!

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Are you interested in learning more about a year of service through the Hands On Atlanta AmeriCorps program? Click here to see all the program benefits, what you’ll do and to start your application for the 2023-24 term.

Meet Maranie Brown, student of the community

Maranie Brown is a dedicated volunteer and civic leader focused on creating equity-minded leaders and promoting technical skills in underrepresented communities. Maranie is the 2023 Program Co-Chair for LEAD Atlanta and President of Outstanding Atlanta, in addition to serving with several other organizations and programs, including the Hands On Atlanta 2023 Civic Leadership Program. In this spotlight, Maranie shares her passion for service and the importance of being a student of the community.

"I established a partnership with Spelman College’s Department of Computer Science and my previous company, SapientRazorfish, and developed a course on experience design and technology," Brown said. "For two years, I led the team that exposed young women to in-demand skills and provided mentorship opportunities for continued advancement and growth in our industry."

Brown also shares her passion for STEM by working with over 2,000 girls every year at the STEM Expo through organizations like Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. "The girls leave with heightened confidence as they extract DNA from a strawberry or program a robot to make music," Brown said. "That boost of confidence influences the courses they take in school, the majors they consider, the career they choose, and so much more."

“I’m focused on developing the next generation of equity-minded leaders and growing the city’s pipeline of skilled talent at the intersection of business and technology.””

— Maranie Brown

Through her work with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women – MECCA Chapter's Apple partnership, Brown trained middle and high school students on the Swift coding language. "By the end of the program, these students of color put their new technical skills to use by developing an app for the national organization to leverage for member retention," Brown said. "When I invest in them, I’m investing in the generations yet to come. I'm focused on developing the next generation of equity-minded leaders and growing the city's pipeline of skilled talent at the intersection of business and technology."

Brown's love for volunteering stems from her passion for learning about issues and their origin. "I rely on the data to inform focus areas and to help prioritize," Brown said. "These organizations provide a space to act and innovate based on that education in a very thoughtful and intentional manner. It's about the impact."

“There are a variety of transferable skills that I have acquired while planning a fundraiser, managing volunteers, coordinating a service project, writing a strategic plan, etc. that I applied in my profession,””

— Maranie Brown

She believes that volunteering has not only had a personal impact on her life but has also positively impacted her professional career. "There are a variety of transferable skills that I have acquired while planning a fundraiser, managing volunteers, coordinating a service project, writing a strategic plan, etc. that I applied in my profession," Brown said. "It's made me a better leader that can set a vision and develop a plan to execute on that vision."

Brown's advice for those interested in volunteering is to be an active and engaged volunteer, but also to look to understand the root cause or origin of the issue and how it connects to others. "Strive to be a student of the community," Brown said. "I strongly believe that an informed leader is a more impactful leader."

As for why she loves Atlanta, Brown says, "I’m just a girl from Southwest Atlanta. This city is home. My roots are here. It’s my foundation. It’s everything to me."

For those looking to volunteer in April, Brown suggests checking out Hands On Atlanta's website for upcoming volunteer opportunities. "There are always opportunities to give back and make a positive impact in our communities," Brown said. "I encourage everyone to find a cause they're passionate about and get involved."

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Feeling inspired by Maranie’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.

Meet Shah O. Martin: The Friendly, Helpful, and Awesome Volunteer Making a Difference in Atlanta!

Shah O. Martin has been Hands On Atlanta’s leading volunteer for FY23, volunteering 56 times for 220 hours! Shah is a shining example of how one person's kindness and dedication can make a positive impact in their community. His friendly, helpful, and awesome nature truly embodies the spirit of volunteering, and Atlanta is lucky to have him. In this volunteer spotlight, get to know what drives Shah to make service a lifestyle.

Shah's passion lies in taking care of homeless family veterans, and he volunteers regularly at Good Samaritan Pantry, which provides essential resources to those in need. When asked about what he loves most about the organization, Shah said, "The people I volunteer with are very friendly. They love helping people like I do." It's clear that Shah has found his tribe at Good Samaritan Pantry, and his dedication to their cause is unwavering.

Volunteering has had a profound impact on Shah's personal and professional life. "It's made me a better person overall and makes me want to help even more," he shared. Through his volunteer work, Shah has honed his skills in processing people through the pantry's system, gaining valuable experience that has enriched his life in many ways.

One of Shah's most memorable moments as a volunteer was "prying with others." He explains, "Working alongside fellow volunteers, seeing the impact we're making together, it's the best feeling. It motivates me to do my best in everything I do." Shah's enthusiasm and positivity are contagious, and it's evident that he truly loves what he does.

When asked why Atlanta holds a special place in his heart, Shah shared, "I was raised in Atlanta, the people are great, and there are plenty of things to do." He is proud to call Atlanta home and is grateful for the opportunities the city has given him to give back to his community.

“Do what you love doing, and you will feel better doing it.” ”

— Shah O. Martin

For those interested in volunteering, Shah's advice is simple yet profound: "Do what you love doing, and you will feel better doing it." He encourages others to follow their passions and find volunteer opportunities that align with their interests and values.

As for Shah's upcoming volunteering plans, he's excited to continue his work with Good Samaritan Pantry in April. He'll be using Hands On Atlanta to connect with others and make a difference in his community. He invites anyone interested to join him and be a part of the movement to Do Something Good!

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Feeling inspired by Shah’s amazing volunteer work?

You can help others like his 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.

Growing Healthier Communities with Food Well Alliance

Supporting over 300 local urban farms, community gardens and orchards, Food Well Alliance is a major player in our local food systems. With a focus on eating local, and eating healthy, Food Well Alliance is making a big impact for food insecure families and we’re proud to support their work. A chat with Flannery Pearson-Clarke, Food Well Alliance’s Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, tells us more about how they do this good work + how we can help local food-producing spaces thrive.

TL;DR – Sign up here to volunteer + support the nearest garden, orchard or farm to you.

Claire: So Flannery – today, we’re here at Norris Lake Community Garden, which I understand to be the only community garden on an island in Atlanta… that we know of, anyway! This place is cool – please tell us about it.

Flannery: Yeah! Norris Lake is one of about 150 community gardens that we work with around Metro Atlanta. This one was started about 5 years ago – community members cleared it out and built a garden. Food Well Alliance has been with them since the beginning. We’ve had volunteers help with the installation and awarded a grant that the garden has put towards other projects. Now, in addition to volunteer workdays, we’re doing a donation orchard planting with them. We’re adding about 20 fruit trees and bushes today. It’s a cool spot – there are some unique things that come with being on an island… There's not a lot of foot traffic, and it comes with the added bonus of navigating how to get materials to and from the garden, which makes volunteers all the more valuable here.

Claire: Food Well Alliance has been on the scene in Atlanta since 2015, and you’ve been there from the beginning. Talk to us about how this organization got off the ground.

Flannery: Yeah! Bill Bolling, from the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and Jim Kennedy from the Cox Foundation, were very instrumental in beginning. When we started, there was a vision of supporting food producing spaces in Atlanta. The Food Bank had an existing community garden program dating back to the 1990s, that supported people in gardens growing food, and Food Well Alliance helped to expand that. The original push was helping to fund spaces, farmers and gardens, and now we’ve moved into funding orchards too. And as we’ve developed, we’ve gotten a lot of feedback that funding is a great way to help, but programming and other resources are needed too. So that means hands-on support, and also technical guidance like workshops and programming.

Claire: So let me get this straight – Food Well Alliance supports community gardens and urban farms. And orchards! Where are these spaces?

Food Well Alliance:  We are really lucky – we get to work around the 5 county metro area, there are so many incredible community gardens, farms and orchards. They are run by incredible people, and they have a lot of community support. If you’re interested in getting involved, OR in finding out if your school or community space might be a good fit for an orchard… we can help! Email gardens@foodwellalliance.org to get connected with spaces – there’s usually something near you, even if you don’t know it yet, and we can help you find out where it is.

And, we also have a City Ag planning program. We’re working with the cities of East Point, Alpharetta and Jonesboro. That’s a way for city officials to get engaged in the planning process + help create spaces in cities for agriculture, in different ways that could mean supporting farmer’s markets or even creating new spaces.

Claire: Can you tell us about the impact of the gardens + farms on the Atlanta area? Where does the food go, and how does distribution work?

Food Well Alliance: In the community garden, people often grow for themselves. Many gardens also participate in the Plant-A-Row program, so food grown goes to local pantries who then distribute it to their clients. We collect data on how much is being donated, and it actually averages to be about 100,000 pounds per year. In 2022, it was over 200,000 pounds! It’s very impactful, and stays super local – it’s usually going down the street. Sometimes, the garden exists because it’s known that a nearby food pantry needs extra support, and other times it’s just a happy collaboration. Some gardens even do direct distribution from their space. Food Well Alliance’s role with this is to encourage gardens to participate in this program, and provide tools, resources and education, like free seedlings and seeds. We’re big on supporting this program. And, to clarify – you don’t have to be a member of a community garden to participate in this! The home gardener can grow + donate food, too!

Urban farms are typically selling food, at a farmer’s market for example. Our partner farms are often bringing fresh food into spaces that didn’t have access to produce before, so they’re an important part of the local food system too.

“The food system should be accessible to everyone.”

— Flannery Pearson-Clarke, Food Well Alliance

Claire: In addition to the support going directly to the gardens + farms, you all have a lot of programming for general community members, right? Like resources for the non-farmer, who just wants to grow at home?

Food Well Alliance: Absolutely. It’s actually in our mission statement that the food system be accessible to everyone, and that everyone has a role to play in that. Not everyone is going to become a farmer. There’s not space in Atlanta for everyone to be! But there’s a role for everyone to play in a home garden, a community garden, learning more and supporting farmers – even just coming out to a farmer’s market. We’ve got our workshop series, Plant. Eat. Repeat, which is in partnership with Atlanta Botanical Gardens. And that’s really fun, we just did a workshop on how to grow herbs for teas. These actually take place at different community gardens, so it’s a great way to get out and learn. We do an annual free tree sale in February, and have a ton of online resources available on our website, like plant care guides and local seedling sale lists and local food-related events lists. We’re also doing a free compost giveaway for Earth Day that’s open to everyone!

Claire: Next month, Food Well Alliance is hosting the 8th annual Soil Fest. I have heard this event is amazing, and it’s for anyone remotely interested in plants and gardening. What can we expect from this event?

Food Well Alliance: Soil Festival - on May 6, 2023! - is our annual fundraiser to support our work providing resources + programming to farms, gardens and orchards around Atlanta. It’s a celebration of Atlanta’s agriculture and the healthy soil that makes it possible. This year we’re again partnering with WABE. We’ll have everything from workshops to a kids corner, a growers panel where some local farmers and gardeners will be talking about the importance of healthy soil for growing healthy food. There’ll be food trucks, a beer garden, and local juices. Tickets are online – but we also need volunteers to help us pull the event off! Volunteers get free admission and a t-shirt. 

Claire: What’s next after Soil Fest? Spring kicks off the growing season, I’m sure there’s TONS to do in the farms and gardens…

Food Well Alliance: The beautiful thing about Atlanta is that you can grow year round, so there’s always something to get involved with. As you can imagine, spring and summer are really big times for a lot of local growers, there’s a lot happening. We have ongoing volunteer workdays at gardens around the city. In the summer, we’ll be offering our next round of Plant. Eat. Repeat. gardening workshops.

Claire: Last question… what are you doing for Earth Day?!
Food Well Alliance: Working in gardens, we get to celebrate this every day! For Earth Day, we’re doing a free Earth Day Compost Giveaway  that Friday and Saturday, out of our warehouse at 970 Jefferson St, and that’s for anyone, not just farmers and professional gardeners! Earth Day also falls during Volunteer Appreciation Week, so we’re now calling it ‘Best Volunteers on Earth Day’.

Gabrielle Rogers is Making a Lasting Impact On her Community and herself

Advocate, resilient, and passionate - these are the three words that best describe Gabrielle Rogers, a dedicated volunteer and Hands On Atlanta Civic Leader. From supporting small business owners to promoting STEAM education for kids, Gabrielle has been actively involved in various nonprofit organizations, including Hands on Atlanta, United Way of Greater Atlanta, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, National Council of Negro Women, Junior League, and Eco Addendum. In this volunteer spotlight, Gabrielle shares how her passion for service has created an impact on the community and herself.

When asked about her passion for volunteering, Gabrielle explains, "I absolutely LOVE volunteering with the DeKalb Section National Council of Negro Women. My passion for service stems from the ability to make a lasting impact. And this is definitely what our Section is all about." In fact, Gabrielle's efforts were rewarded with a $40,000 grant in 2020 to provide program services and kits to facilitate STEAM education for kids as part of the Kids Against COVID taskforce.

“I have dedicated my life to service for the betterment of my community. It is a part of who I am and I take it with me everywhere I go,” ”

— Gabrielle Rogers

For Gabrielle, volunteering is not just about giving back to the community, but it has also had a profound impact on her personal and professional life. "I have dedicated my life to service for the betterment of my community. It is a part of who I am and I take it with me everywhere I go," says Gabrielle, who also serves as the Volunteer Advisor for her organization, ensuring a strong commitment to service and social responsibility.

Through her volunteering experience, Gabrielle has honed her communication and leadership skills, which she believes are essential for any volunteer project or strategy. "Both are necessary qualities in any volunteer project and there’s strategy in knowing the outcome and making sure the team knows the who, what, where, and why? With these skills, you will definitely make the lives of any organization easier," shares Gabrielle.

Gabrielle's most memorable highlight as a volunteer was during the MLK Day of Service with Hands On Atlanta, where she led a team of over 400 volunteers at the Truly Living Well Urban Farm in Atlanta. "Team BLUE went over and beyond at the farm, whose mission is to feed people right where they live, emulating nature in the production of food, educating and helping to build equitable and sustainable local food communities. The center serves as an agricultural hub for the West Atlanta community," recalls Gabrielle with pride.

As a native of Atlanta, Gabrielle is deeply connected to the city and its progress. "I LOVE how far we have come. We haven't even scratched the surface of our influence in the arts, entertainment, business, and economic development. I am so proud, and the best is yet to come!" says Gabrielle enthusiastically.

“Find an issue that you’re most passionate about and find an organization that supports that issue and make it happen!””

— Gabrielle Rogers

When asked about advice for someone interested in volunteering, Gabrielle's message is clear: "Just do it. There is no greater feeling in knowing that you have made a lasting impact in your community. Find an issue that you're most passionate about and find an organization that supports that issue and make it happen!"

With her unwavering passion, resilience, and dedication to service, Gabrielle Rogers continues to be an inspiring advocate for her community in Atlanta, making a lasting impact through her volunteering efforts.

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Feeling inspired by Gabrielle’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.

Sara Keith on Creativeness and Compassion to Make a Difference

As the President of Illuminate Atlanta and Owner of Atlanta School of Photography, Sara Keith is a force to be reckoned with. But beyond her professional endeavors, she is also deeply involved in various nonprofit organizations in Atlanta, including Hillside Inc, Cool Girls Inc, CHRIS180, AWARE, and Little Creek Horse Farm, where she volunteers her time and expertise to make a positive impact in the community. In this volunteer spotlight, get to know Sara and how she’s using her creative skills to give back.

When asked about her passion for volunteering, Sara says, "I'm hoping more will be done to provide equity in our communities for children's futures. Providing safe, healthy, and creative educational spaces for all Atlanta kids and teens is something I care deeply about."

“Providing safe, healthy, and creative educational spaces for all Atlanta kids and teens is something I care deeply about.””

— Sara Keith

One of the organizations she volunteers with, Illuminate Atlanta, holds a special place in her heart. "Illuminate Atlanta meets organizations where they're at and what their needs are. We fold photography into whatever their goals are and create comprehensive lesson plans for each individual," Sara explains. She has honed her skills in meeting kids where they're at and letting them experience learning in their own way, which has been a valuable lesson for her.

Sara shares a touching moment that motivates her to continue volunteering. "After a series of lessons was over, one young man wrote me a thank you letter saying how photography changed his life. He suffers from severe depression and he said, 'Thank you for inspiring me to live on.' I keep this letter pinned up next to my office," she says, highlighting the profound impact volunteering can have on someone's life.

Apart from her volunteer work, Sara is also passionate about Atlanta itself. "I always say this city is the closest to a Star Trek future I want to see. The amount of green space, diversity, culture, etc. is just unsurpassed. I love exploring different parks and conservatories across the city," she shares with a smile.

“You never know whose life you’re going to change, but you’re guaranteed to make a change for good. Not a lot of other things in life can do that!””

— Sara Keith

When asked for advice to those interested in volunteering, Sara's response is simple: "Do it! You never know whose life you're going to change, but you're guaranteed to make a change for good. Not a lot of other things in life can do that!"

Sara and Illuminate Atlanta are also taking their efforts online by creating photography lessons for teachers and parents through social media platforms. "These lessons tie in with existing lesson plans for a wide range of ages. We hope to take these lesson plans and transform it into a comprehensive teaching artist program with Atlanta Public Schools in 2024!" Sara enthusiastically shares her future plans.

So, if you're looking to make a positive impact in Atlanta, join Sara and Illuminate Atlanta as they continue to do something good for the community. You never know, you might just inspire someone to live on!

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Feeling inspired by Sara’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.