THE CITIZEN BLOG
THE CITIZEN BLOG
Meet Deborah Jennings - A volunteer with a heart for service
We’re excited to highlight extraordinary volunteer Deborah Jennings! Deborah, a “Grady” baby, was born and raised in Atlanta, and has a heart for service! Read more about her journey to volunteerism!
We’re excited to highlight extraordinary volunteer Deborah Jennings! Deborah, a “Grady” baby, was born and raised in Atlanta, and has a heart for service! In November 20, 2015 her dad died unexpectedly. 30 days later on her mother’s birthday, her husband of 32 years died from kidney failure. Shortly thereafter, her mom died from congestive heart failure. Through the toughest time of her life, Deborah looked to service to share love with those in need! “Instead of wallowing in my own sorrow, I chose to share that love with those in need. My heart healed by touching the hearts and pouring into others.” When she’s not volunteering or running Each One Reach One, she’s on the Atlanta Beltline walking 5 miles a day! She’s a true ATLien, and sparks community everywhere she goes!
Read more about Deborah below!
Which Nonprofit Organization(s) do you volunteer with?
Each One Reach One, Veterans Empowerment, & Our House.
What impact areas or pressing needs facing Atlanta do you care about most? Why?
At this time, it would have to be the elderly. Many of them are along with no one to depend on. They’ve become near and dear to my heart.
What do you love most about an organization you volunteer with? Why do you volunteer with them?
I love volunteering with Hands on Atlanta Discovery Program because if you start at the beginning of the school year, you witness firsthand the impact you’ve made in the students you read to.
How has volunteering impacted your personal/professional life?
Volunteering has opened my eyes and my heart to the many struggles others are facing which in turn has allowed me to see what’s going on in my very own family.
“For people who are experiencing hardships of any kind, my advice to them is to go out and make a difference in someone else’s life you might find that what you think are hardships in your life aren’t as bad as you thought because you’ll see there are others who are going through much worse things. Giving back touches your heart in ways you’d never expect.”
What skills have you honed or what have you learned through your experience as a volunteer?
Tutoring 3rd graders has taught me patience.
Can you share a memorable highlight or moment you've experienced that might motivate others to volunteer?
Prior to my mom’s death, she became a hospice patient. While visiting her, I noticed several elderly patients on the floor that never had visitors. I asked the staff if I could become a hospice volunteer. They said yes, but I’d have to go through sensitivity training. That experience has been so rewarding and so needed. I encourage anyone who is looking for a truly meaningful volunteer experience to volunteer at a hospice center.
We have hundreds of in-person projects in need of some extra hands taking place throughout April 2025. Check out all of the ways you can volunteer with Hands On Atlanta all month long!
Snowballs, Supper and Service - Looking back at the 2025 MLK Days of Service
It was just 10 days ago when 5-6 inches of perfect packing snow painted the city. Snowmen came alive across neighborhoods, kids (and let’s face it - grown adults, myself included) were sledding down the streets and literally skiing in Piedmont Park, and the start of the 2025 MLK Days of Service was put on hold.
The good news is the snow didn’t last, and what came next was one of the biggest, most impactful stretches of service in our 35 years. Together, 5,000 volunteers showed up at over 400 projects in support of 75 different nonprofits and schools. The week culminated on the King Holiday alongside the College Football Playoff National Championship and the start of a new presidential administration. Here’s a look back at some of the highlighted projects from the historic, 2025 MLK Days of Service.
Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center and Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps, joined Hands On Atlanta and volunteers in our warehouse for a hygiene pack and to paint a mural on Friday, Jan. 17.
It’s Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025 and it’s snowing in Atlanta, GA.
It was just 10 days ago when 5-6 inches of perfect packing snow painted the city. Snowmen came alive across neighborhoods, kids (and let’s face it - grown adults, myself included) were sledding down the streets and literally skiing in Piedmont Park, and the start of the 2025 MLK Days of Service was put on hold.
The good news is the snow didn’t last for long, and what came next was one of the biggest, most impactful stretches of service in our 35 years. Together, 5,000 volunteers showed up at over 400 projects in support of 75 different nonprofits and schools. The week culminated on the King Holiday alongside the College Football Playoff National Championship (did you see us on ESPN?) and the start of a new presidential administration.
Here’s a look back at some of the highlighted projects from the historic, 2025 MLK Days of Service.
Food Works at 970 Jefferson
150 Volunteers from Coca-Cola, Home Depot, OneDigital, Salesforce and Google Fiber joined Hands On Atlanta, Urban Recipe and Food Well Alliance at our shared warehouse space for a huge meal pack.
Cargill Atlanta Grand Opening Meals4Kids Pack
125 Volunteers from Cargill learned about the challenges of food insecurity in metro Atlanta, packed 1,000 meal kits (3,000+ meals) for students in Hands On Atlanta partner Title 1 schools.
Georgia Governor, Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor, Andre Dickens were both in attendance to help welcome Cargill to Atlanta.
Hygiene Helpers at 970 Jefferson
100 Volunteers from Coca-Cola & Fiserv packed 1,000 Hygiene Care Kits, with essential items and warm weather gear that was donated to the Old Fourth Ward community through Ebenezer Baptist and Restoring One’s Hope.
We were joined by special guests Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center and Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps.
Latin American Association Food Drive
Close to 50 volunteers from The Home Depot and 11Alive packed and distributed meals to more than 200 families.
We were joined by the 11Alive news team, where meteorologist Melissa Nord reported live throughout the morning.
11th Annual MLK Sunday Supper presented by Coca-Cola
300 of Atlanta’s most influential community, civic and corporate leaders joined Hands On Atlanta at the Atlanta History Center for an evening of dialogue and discourse on environmental justice.
Presenters included Rodney Bullard, CEO of The Same House, Nathanial Smith, founder and CEO of Partnership for Southern Equity, Chandra Farley, Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Atlanta, Mindy Goldstein Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program at Emory University and Cheryl Preheim, morning anchor at 11Alive.
Entertainment was provided by an incredible premiere of the Theatrical Outfit’s upcoming hip hop musical, Young John Lewis.
View the program, the list of table facilitators, our discussion guide and more here.
Hope Hill Elementary Championship Drive
200 Volunteers from The College Football Playoff Foundation packed 1,000 STEAM Kits, 1,000 Meal Kits and 100 Teacher Support Kits at Hope Hill Elementary School.
Special guests included all 50 “Teacher of the Year” Award winners, 40 Hands On Atlanta AmeriCorps members and members of the AT&T team who presented Hope Hill Elementary with a surprise donation!
Meals4Kids Pack with Delta Air Lines
150 Volunteers from Delta Air Lines packed 2,000 Meal Kits (5,000 meals) that were donated donated to Hands On Atlanta partner Title 1 schools.
With all that impact, there are still more ways to celebrate Dr. King. Morehouse College has a series of events taking place throughout the month. Learn more and get involved here.
Here’s a look at some scenes of service from around the city.
Thank you to our sponsors
Atlanta Rallies for 2025 MLK Days of Service with 400+ Volunteer Projects
Hands On Atlanta to celebrate the MLK Days of Service by engaging 5,000 volunteers to support over 50 nonprofits
ATLANTA, GA: Hands On Atlanta will lead 10 days of service from January 10-20, featuring over 400 volunteer projects supporting more than 75 nonprofits and schools. The effort will culminate on the 2025 King Holiday, aiming to engage over 5,000 people in service, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy through meaningful action and community impact.
“MLK Day is a powerful reminder that service can bring people together and create lasting change in our community,” said Jay Cranman, President and CEO of Hands On Atlanta. “Atlanta’s spirit of service runs deep, and we’re proud to work alongside our incredible partners and sponsors to honor Dr. King’s legacy by turning reflection into action.”
The 2025 Hands On Atlanta MLK Days of Service are presented by Delta Air Lines and The Coca-Cola Company with 30 other supporting sponsors including AmeriCorps, The College Football Playoff Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, Cargill, and Ben and Jerry’s.
“Delta is proud to be presenting sponsor of the 2025 MLK Days of Service with Hands On Atlanta, offering hundreds of volunteer opportunities throughout the week as we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Our commitments to community, equity, and social impact underscore our mission to connect and reflect the world by serving others. On MLK Day, 150 Delta volunteers will pack meal kits to serve four Atlanta Public Schools for a day on, not a day off," said Amal Yusuf, General Manager-ACS for Delta Air Lines and Board member for Hands On Atlanta.
Featured events, ideal for coverage:
Jan. 16 - Hands On Atlanta welcomes Cargill to their new office in Atlanta with a large-scale meal pack to benefit students in Title 1 schools
Jan. 17 – Hands On Atlanta will host a hygiene kit pack for Ebenezer Baptist Church and Restoring One’s Hope from their warehouse at 970 Jefferson St. Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps and Dr. Bernice King, CEO of The King Center will be in attendance
Jan. 19 - 11th Annual MLK Sunday Supper presented by Coca-Cola will convene 300 community, corporate and civic leaders at the Atlanta History Center to discuss environmental justice. The event will feature Rodney Bullard from The Same House, Nathanial Smith from the Partnership for Southern Equity, Chandra Farley, Atlanta’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Mindy Goldstein, Director of the Turner Environmental Law Clinic ~ Director of the Environmental Law Program at Emory University
On the King Holiday, Jan. 20 - 200 volunteers from the College Football Playoff Foundation will pack meals and STEAM kits at Hope Hill Elementary and another 150 volunteers from Delta Air Lines will pack meals for students in Title 1 schools
“The Coca-Cola Company is proud to join Hands On Atlanta for the 11th Annual MLK Sunday Supper. We’re honored to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy as we engage with civic, corporate and community leaders on meaningful ways to support the communities we serve.” said Alba Baylin, Vice President, Stakeholder and Social Impact Management at The Coca-Cola Company North America.
There is still a great need for community volunteers to “take the day on.” To get involved and find a project to join or for more information on special events from collaborative partners at The King Center, Atlanta History Center, and Morehouse College visit our website at mlkatl.org or handsonatlanta.org
Meet Hands On Hunger Pantry - Power Atlanta
Meet one our newest Hands On Hunger pantries: Power Atlanta! Founded in 2020, Power Atlanta, is committed to addressing the challenges of economic disparity and enhancing access to opportunities in Atlanta. Through a wide range of programs and partnerships, they provide resources and support needed for individuals and families to overcome challenges and achieve sustainable success.
Learn more about Power Atlanta in our interview below!
Meet one our newest Hands On Hunger pantries: Power Atlanta! Founded in 2020, Power Atlanta, is committed to addressing the challenges of economic disparity and enhancing access to opportunities in Atlanta. Through a wide range of programs and partnerships, they provide resources and support needed for individuals and families to overcome challenges and achieve sustainable success.
Learn more about Power Atlanta in our interview below!
Tell us about why you applied to the Hands On Hunger Program and what you're goals are for the next two years.
We applied to create a streamlined volunteer process, where we find quality volunteers and a tracking system.
Tell us about your organization - what's your mission, and how does it impact our community?
Our mission is to empower marginalized communities with necessary programs and resources needed to thrive. we are located in an underserved area of West End Atlanta that lacks access to resources. We try to bring needed resources to the community.
“We started to address financial literacy and job skills but moved to include basic needs as we noticed that participants experienced food insecurity and lack of access to other resources.”
How do volunteers support your mission? What impact do they have on your work? What is possible through the support of volunteers that would not be possible otherwise?
Volunteers are essential to POWER Atlanta's mission, allowing us to reach more people and offer a wider range of services. They help run programs like food distribution and, assist with fundraising events, and take care of office tasks, freeing up our staff to focus on bigger projects. Some volunteers even bring specialized skills, like IT support, which we might not be able to afford otherwise. Their involvement increases our capacity, strengthens our ties to the community, and saves costs, enabling us to allocate resources where they’re needed most. With their support, we can try new projects and expand our services until we have increased funding.
Volunteer with Power Atlanta - here
What community problem is your organization trying to solve? Can you tell us more about the issue?
We are tackling the challenges of poverty, economic instability, food insecurity, and health disparities, including HIV prevention, in the Metro-Atlanta area, particularly in the historic West End community. With many residents living below the poverty line and facing limited access to jobs, affordable housing, and essential resources, the organization works to break the cycle of poverty. POWER Atlanta also provides navigators to assist participants who are technology-challenged with applications for state services like Medicaid and food stamps. By offering comprehensive support, financial education, and health services, we empower individuals and aims to build a stronger, more resilient community.
Can you share some impact stats or comments about the work being done by your organization? For example, how many meals/families/individuals do you serve monthly?
We serve on average 950-1020 families a month. Our pantry is open weekly on Thursdays.
What kind of programming do you offer the community?
Basic Needs Assistance: A food pantry, clothing closet, housing support, and a drop-in resource center that provides immediate help and referrals to other organizations. Financial Literacy and Economic Stability: Workshops on budgeting and credit management, along with help accessing benefits like Medicaid and food stamps, especially for those who struggle with technology. Health and Wellness Services: HIV prevention education and testing, plus health screenings and wellness workshops. Community Engagement: Events, support groups, and outreach activities that bring the community together and provide peer support.
What types of projects do you offer? Tell us about a few different offerings. Do you have monthly or weekly recurringopportunities? How about your seasonal or annual events?
Weekly food pantry, Monthly community outreach events, Back to school bash, trunk or treat, Thanksgiving and Christmas feeding that includes personal hygiene products and weather related items distribution.
Tell us about what it's like to serve with your organization. How many volunteers do you host every month?
A fun time with community and you get to interact with people who have lots of different lived experiences.
What keeps volunteers coming back to serve with your organization?
To know they are making a difference in assisting customers with feeding their families.
Tell us about how volunteers can jump in and get involved. How can they best support you?
- Program Support: Help with the food pantry, assist in job training programs, or support health and wellness services.
- Event Support: Assist with planning and running fundraising and outreach events.
- Administrative Help: Provide office support, manage communications, or assist participants with technology needs for applications.
- **Specialized Skills:** Offer expertise in areas like legal advice, marketing, or IT support.
- Community Outreach: Spread awareness about our services and engage with the community.
Meet AmeriCorps Member - Chase Crosby
Chase Crosby, an AmeriCorps member and dedicated Student Support Skills coach at ASA Hilliard, brings a unique blend of passion and purpose to his role. With a background in psychology and aspirations to specialize in Clinical Psychology with a focus on children, Chase saw AmeriCorps as the perfect opportunity to gain hands-on experience while making a meaningful impact.
Learn more about Chase’s AmeriCorps journey below!
Chase Crosby, an AmeriCorps member and dedicated Student Support Skills coach at ASA Hilliard, brings a unique blend of passion and purpose to his role. With a background in psychology and aspirations to specialize in Clinical Psychology with a focus on children, Chase saw AmeriCorps as the perfect opportunity to gain hands-on experience while making a meaningful impact.
Learn more about Chase’s AmeriCorps journey below!
Why did you join a AmeriCorps?
I originally joined AmeriCorps because I was looking for an internship and that was related to psychology so when I was over in Italy I was looking at all the different options and came across social emotional learning and I thought it would fit in with my background especially with my future in Clinical Psychology with a focus on children it all just made sense the money was sufficient for what I needed this year and it really just all worked out and I think it’s going to be a big help in the future as well and it looks really good you know on a resume and gives me some great experience this going to take me a long way.
What do you like most about working with your students?
I think for me the most rewarding part is when the students faces light up when things start to click for them and I also enjoy like when the kids look for me and I know that I make their day better just by being there when I’m able to turn like a really bad situation and a child is going through a bad day and I’m able to flip that around and send them back to class or they leave me or I leave their room and there mode is just went from zero back to 100. I really enjoyed that being able to make a day-to-day difference in the lives of these children.
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I hope to continue to gain knowledge of course, I hope to network and meet new people as well. I hope to also learn background on children and seeing them in a school setting. I think that it’s going to be able to help me out in the future when I’m having like therapy sessions with children seeing them all like in different aspects you know seeing how children act at school versus how they act at home versus in therapy I think it’ll all just be a full circle thing. I think being a part of AmeriCorps is really special and a great opportunity for anybody so I’m excited that I got on.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Five years from now I will still be in grad school. I don’t think I’ll graduate until I’m 27 or 28. but I’ll still be in grad school probably in an internship by then. Something like this but maybe even bigger scale. Outside of a school setting, maybe in a hospital setting or something. Somewhere working with kids still changing lives.
When you’re not mentoring or tutoring what do you like to do for fun?
Outside of all of this I enjoy going out with my friends, I also like to read. I’m also an artist so I draw some, paint some, as well as write poetry.
What do you love about ATL?
I love how Atlanta is its own little island I always say that that it’s like a 10-mile island of its own that’s like nowhere else everybody’s on their own time in here. I enjoy how you can go one mile down the street and it’s like completely different vibes but it all somehow comes together and make sense. Good time good people, good food good time!!!!!
Meet Hands On Hunger Pantry - Jodeco Baptist Church Agape Ministry
Meet one of our newest Hands On Hunger pantries - Jodeco Baptist Church Agape Ministry. They serve Henry County and feed up to 400 families per month! In addition to providing food to the community, they offer clothing and host an afterschool tutoring program!
Meet one of our newest Hands On Hunger pantries - Jodeco Baptist Church Agape Ministry. They serve Henry County and feed up to 400 families per month! In addition to providing food to the community, they offer clothing and host an afterschool tutoring program!
Learn more about Jodeco Baptist Church Agape Ministry:
Tell us about why you applied to the Hands On Hunger Program and what you're goals are for the next two years.
We applied because we need help creating a structure for the future.
Tell us about your organization - what's your mission, and how does it impact our community?
We are a Food Pantry helping families in need with Food and Clothing with no restriction on the area!
What's the history of your organization? How and why did it get started?
There is a great need in our community. Many individuals are facing challenges in making ends meet, so we have been working diligently to bridge that gap. In addition, we have established a partnership with an elementary school to ensure that those in need receive essential support such as food and clothing.
“Our volunteers support our mission with donations and their time. ”
What community problem is your organization trying to solve? Can you tell us more about the issue?
The current food shortage is making it difficult for us to meet the needs of those who are affected.
What types of projects do you offer? Tell us about a few different offerings. Do you have monthly or weekly recurring opportunities? How about your seasonal or annual events?
We are open to different things just pending on everybody's schedule
How many volunteers do you host every month?
Up to 20
What keeps volunteers coming back to serve with your organization?
Their need to help and the uplifting environment.
Tell us about how volunteers can jump in and get involved. How can they best support you?
Volunteers can help by sorting food, labeling food, sorting clothes, and getting a filing system. To get involved visit here.
Don't Miss the Fun on Family Volunteer Day - November 23, 2024!
Get ready to make a difference together this Thanksgiving season! Before gathering for a holiday meal, gather for something even more special—Family Volunteer Day on November 23, 2024! Join families across the nation for a day of kindness, unity, and fun as you roll up your sleeves and make a positive impact in your community.
Celebrate the season of giving by creating unforgettable memories with your loved ones. Don't miss out—find a hot project and start giving back today! (Age eligibility varies based on each project.)
Get ready to make a difference together this Thanksgiving season! Before gathering for a holiday meal, gather for something even more special—Family Volunteer Day on November 23, 2024! Join families across the nation for a day of kindness, unity, and fun as you roll up your sleeves and make a positive impact in your community.
Celebrate the season of giving by creating unforgettable memories with your loved ones. Don't miss out—find a hot project and start giving back today! (Age eligibility varies based on the project.)
Check out some high-impact options for November 23. If you need help signing up for projects, we have an article that tells you how to do just that!
2024 Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash
Ages 12+
Join Atlanta Track Club as a volunteer for the 2024 Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon on November 28, 2024. Volunteers tasks include supporting race prep, expo, start, finish, and breakdown! (November 23rd is for race prep only)
Georgia Festival of Trees Event Elves
Ages 12+
The Georgia Festival of Trees is BACK! They’ve got an sleigh-full of merry volunteer experiences for you to choose from -- decorating, greeting guests, children's area, gift shop, ticketing and guest services to name just a few. Jobs will be assigned at check-in.
East Decatur Greenway Volunteer Day
Ages 15+
Help the Wylde Center continue to transform East Decatur Greenway, ensuring the area remains clean, healthy, safe, and accessible for the community to enjoy. Tasks include weeding, mulching, or planting. Please wear closed toe shoes and bring a water bottle. There will be gardening tools, gloves, water, and insect repellant on site if you need them.
8th Annual Thanksgiving Distribution powered by Amazon
Help C.H.O.I.C.E.S. prepare for their 8th annual Thanksgiving distribution! Volunteers will help pack bags, load cars and other volunteer tasks, helping 2,000 families in time for Thanksgiving!
Family Volunteer Day is a great reason to get together and do something good… but, you know, we’re here year round! Check out our calendar of volunteer opportunities to find a project to join together any day of the year.
Powering the community forward with corporate impact
For 35 years, Hands On Atlanta has energized thousands of companies to make a difference in our community! This year alone, with 32 corporate activations and over 2,900 volunteers, we’ve partnered to meet Atlanta’s most pressing needs—packing 5,000+ meals, 4,000+ STEAM kits, 2,200 comfort kits, and beautifying three schools.
Check out some of the amazing projects we tackled together!
For 35 years, Hands On Atlanta has energized thousands of companies to make a difference in our community! This year alone, with 32 corporate activations and over 2,900 volunteers, we’ve partnered to meet Atlanta’s most pressing needs—packing 5,000+ meals, 4,000+ STEAM kits, 2,200 comfort kits, and beautifying three schools along the way.
Check out some of the amazing projects we tackled together!
Cox enterprises
Site beautification
During their summit, 150 CEI Law and Policy Volunteers from Cox came together to beautify Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School. They completed landscaping, painting, room renovations, and built furniture for the students!
UPS
STEAM Kit Pack
During their Volunteer Townhall, 125 UPS volunteers helped to fight education inequality by assembling 240 STEAM kits to support the students at Fickett Elementary School. In addition to their projects, volunteers participated in a panel on the importance of volunteerism in the community!
Target
site beautification
Through this project, Target volunteers transformed Usher Collier Elementary through a fun filled beautification! Over 100 employees painted a mural, completed landscaping, and room transformations!
Delta air lines
Meals4Kids Pack
In collaboration with our Meals4Kids program, and in celebration of Juneteenth, 150 Delta employees unboxed and assembled 1,500 meals for children in need across Atlanta. This exciting project was joined by Para-Olympians, and partner schools all playing a crucial role in making a difference.
OneDigital
Steam & Care Pack
Through this project, 32 OneDigital interns assembled 400 STEAM and 400 Hygiene (CARE) kits. These kits were distributed between 5 non-profit partners: PAD, Peace On The Move, Just1 BMG, Milford Baptist Church, and Chosen Vessels.
From on-site, team building activations to neighborhood changing beautification projects, we mobilized 30+ teams to help tackle our city’s most pressing needs.