THE CITIZEN BLOG
THE CITIZEN BLOG
AmeriCorps Spotlight: Amber Moore
We’re excited this month to highlight AmeriCorps Member Amber Moore! Amber is a visionary leader with a passion for helping others. She serves as a Student Support Coach through AmeriCorps, in addition to volunteering throughout Atlanta.
Learn more about her journey to AmeriCorps, and how she’s shaping the future!
We’re excited this month to highlight AmeriCorps Member Amber Moore! Amber is a visionary leader with a passion for helping others. She serves as a Student Support Coach through AmeriCorps, in addition to volunteering throughout Atlanta.
Learn more about her journey to AmeriCorps, and how she’s shaping the future!
Why did you join AmeriCorps?
I joined AmeriCorps because I was raised by two visionaries who fought for Civil rights in two different ways. They were the first to teach me to get into "Good Trouble" ( John Lewis). My parents and grandmother always taught me that serving my community is a responsibility of being an American citizen. AmeriCorps has been an amazing gateway for me to serve children who look like me but might not have the opportunities or exposure that I had, and I should help them have "Genius Awakenings" as well as give me a chance to have a hand in the education of our future.
What do you like most about working with your students?
What I like about this opportunity to work with students is seeing their faces when they have gone from 2nd grade reading level to 3rd grade - 4th grade reading level. When the Student Council was launched, the atmosphere changed, excitement was in the air, and the behavior of students changed.
“Atlanta allows me to be able to express my masculine-presenting side, and be a leader and advocate for the Black LGBT Greek community. While being a part of the teaching of our students in areas of leadership, and student emotional learning support.”
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
This work is a part of my legacy. I want to be the one that many years from now, something I have said or my character is what they remember.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I hope to have the Kindezi West Student Council recognized for several awards, and I have a job with the Kindezi School System to create programs like the Student Council. I would love to work with Kindezi Schools to have AmeriCorps members heavily present at all schools.
When you’re not mentoring/tutoring, what do you like to do for fun?
I like to binge-watch movies, series, or just comedy shows. I love to travel with my fraternity members. Sometimes just hanging out at home is peace for me.
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 more!
Food Insecurity Resource Guide
With the recent cut to SNAP benefits and Atlanta’s rise in food insecurity, our team put together a list of resources to help connect ATLiens with those who can help. So, if you or someone you know is in need of food or a hot meal, we hope this list of trusted organizations can help or someone you know, make it through this holiday season.
Hands On Atlanta’s mission is to mobilize the Atlanta community to tackle our city’s most pressing needs. With the recent cut to SNAP benefits and Atlanta’s rise in food insecurity, our team put together a list of resources to help connect ATLiens with those who can help. So, if you or someone you know is in need of food or a hot meal, we hope this list of trusted organizations can help or someone you know, make it through this holiday season.
Food Pantries
Click the name of each organization for more information.
4755 North Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338
(678) 687-5357
Pantry Hours: Wednesday 9:00am - 12:30pm
What they provide: We distribute food and clothing on Wednesdays from 9:00am - 12:30pm
Requirements: No documentation necessary. They will ask for the name and birthdate of every member of your household.
1790 LaVista Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 325-0677
What they provide: a food pantry, and hot lunches. Each individual or family may come once a week to receive a box of groceries that will have dry goods, frozen meat, fresh produce, dairy items, bread, and desserts. Those without access to a kitchen will receive a large bag of non-perishable, easy-open, low-preparation foods.
Who they serve: Zip codes 30030; 30032; 30033; 30319; 30324; 30329; 30340; 30341; 30345. (Will distribute food to veterans and homeless peoples from any zip code)
Requirements: Bring proof of your address: driver's license or other official ID with address or bill with zip code.
Pantry Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 1:00pm - 3:30pm. No appointment necessary.
They have a limited number of “to-go” meals for our friends experiencing homelessness available on a first come, first served basis on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 pm until 2:30 pm. The meal may be eaten at our picnic tables or taken to be eaten elsewhere.
Shallowford Presbyterian Church
2375 Shallowford Road NE Atlanta, GA 30345
(404) 321-1844
Who they serve: Residents of DeKalb County area only. Eligible to receive assistance 4 times per year.
What they provide: Shallowford’s Food Pantry provides temporary or emergency food assistance, including groceries, for over 400 families per year and distributes more than 15,000 pounds of food per year. No client fee or donation is required. Identification cards for all family members are needed at the time of arrival. Shallowford is on MARTA routes 33 and 126.
Pantry Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 1:00pm to 3:00pm. For more information, please call.
First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
1328 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta, GA 30309
404-228-7724 (Dial 1 for food pantry)
Who they serve: Butts, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, Rockdale.
Requirements: valid ID, SS card and proof of residency that shows amount paid for rent. Picture ID/driver license, proof of residence or lease (current utility bill), social security card for all members of the household, does not need proof of legal
Clients can only receive food bi-monthly.
Clients must complete an intake form their first visit before receiving any food.
What they provide: The pantry is stocked with food secured from the Atlanta Community Food Bank, local vendors, and church & community members. In a single year, approximately 131,000 pounds (nearly 62 tons) of food are distributed from the Venable Food Pantry.
Ben Hill United Methodist Church
2099 Fairburn Road SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30331
(404) 344-0618
Who they serve: Fulton.
Requirements: Picture ID/driver license, social security card for each child.
Pantry Hours: Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm.
1966 Lakewood Terr SE Atlanta, GA 30315
(404) 622-7931
Who they serve: Fulton
Eligibility: If you don't have kids in the home but live within our service area (zip code 30315), you can stop by our office on Wednesdays to receive a bag of nutritious, supplemental food.
Pantry hours: Wednesdays from 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Requirements: Picture ID/driver license
Home Delivered Meals
Click the name of each organization for more information.
1705 Commerce Drive NW Atlanta, GA 30318
(404)-351-3889
Who they serve: In order to qualify for Meal Services, applicants must be:
60 years and older
Fulton County Residents
Low-income
What they provide: Our flagship program, Meal Services, provides nourishing meals to low-income and homebound seniors in Atlanta who are unable to afford or access adequate nutrition. Currently, the meal services program delivers meals every Saturday to frail, homebound and low-income seniors residing in Fulton County.
1380 West Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 872-8089
Who they serve: Senior Clients, Medicaid Clients & The Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP), HIV/AIDS Clients, and Private Pay Clients & Caregivers
What they provide: Medically-tailored meals for Medicaid clients, Care transitions from hospital to home/community, Freshly prepared meals for our senior clients, and Health-promoting, kid-friendly meals for at-risk youth
Need more resources?
Our friends at United Way of Greater Atlanta have an awesome 211 service! This is the place to find the resources you need to keep yourself and your family housed, fed, safe, and healthy. Find services in your area through their database.
Ready to lend a hand? Volunteer with our partners fighting food insecurity!
AmeriCorps Spotlight: DeSeana Brockington
We’re excited this month to highlight AmeriCorps Member DeSeana Brockington! DeSeana holds a degree in PR and has a passion for youth advocacy and development. She serves as a Teacher Assistant through AmeriCorps, in addition to volunteering throughout Atlanta.
Learn more about her journey to AmeriCorps, and how she’s shaping the future!
Why did you join AmeriCorps?
I've always had a genuine passion for community service and helping others, especially youth in discovering, maintaining, and pursuing their dreams and aspirations. I was working in marketing and visual merchandising, and though I enjoyed the work, I didn’t feel like I was operating within my true purpose. I prayed and asked God to use me however He saw fit. Then one day, AmeriCorps appeared on my screen, and I thought to myself, “okay”. Out of faith, I quit my job. Two days later, I received a call from AmeriCorps, and that’s when I knew this was exactly where I needed to be.
What do you like most about working with your students?
I love my students. Every day, they inadvertently remind me to keep going, even when things get a little dicey. They help me stay connected to my childlike side, all while teaching me how to be a better influence and a better human being.
“I love the diversity. I’m from Savannah, Georgia, and I’ve never been exposed to so many people of color with different hobbies, aspirations, and lifestyles who yet still respect, support, and include one another.”
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I want to use my platform and draw on the resources I’ve gained from my experiences and pay it forward to individuals, families, and communities in need.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I see myself serving not only the Atlanta community but also expanding my impact to other states and even countries.
When you’re not mentoring/tutoring, what do you like to do for fun?
I like to relax and enjoy my rent. Whether that means chilling at home watching All American or Scandal with a plate of food in front of me, or hanging out with my homegirls.
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 more!
Why Showing Up Matters: The Effect of Ghosting Your Volunteer Projects
At Hands On Atlanta, we believe that service has the power to transform communities, and that transformation starts with one simple act: showing up.
When volunteers commit to a project but don’t arrive, it’s not just an empty spot on the sign-up sheet. It’s a missed opportunity to make a difference, to lift a child’s confidence, to feed a family, or to protect our planet. Every volunteer counts—and when we don’t show up, our partners and neighbors feel the absence.
The Impact of No-Shows
Ghosting a volunteer project can create real challenges for our nonprofit partners and the communities they serve. These organizations often plan resources, purchase supplies, and design activities based on expected volunteer turnout. When volunteers don’t appear, staff are left to fill in the gaps, stretching already limited resources and time.
For example:
Education programs depend on consistent volunteer mentors to help students build trust, literacy, and confidence. When mentors skip a session, a student may lose valuable momentum.
Environmental sustainability efforts rely on teams of volunteers to clean parks, clear invasives, or maintain community gardens. A smaller team means fewer paths cleared and more litter left behind.
Food insecurity programs count on hands to sort, pack, and distribute meals. Every missing volunteer means fewer families fed that day.
When we fail to show up, we unintentionally send a message that the work, and the people aren’t important. But when we show up, we say something powerful: We care.
Our Partners Depend on You
Hands On Atlanta’s network of nonprofit partners counts on reliable volunteers to keep their missions moving forward. They trust that when you sign up, you’ll bring your energy, compassion, and commitment. Your presence amplifies their impact and ensures that critical community needs are met, today and tomorrow.
Showing up doesn’t just help the cause; it strengthens our collective impact. Together, we’re building a more equitable Atlanta, one where everyone has access to quality education, healthy food, and a sustainable environment.
The Power of Commitment
Volunteering is more than giving your time, it’s about being part of something bigger than yourself. When you commit to a project and follow through, you’re honoring that connection. And even if your plans change, a simple cancellation helps others take your place and keep the mission alive.
Small acts of accountability make a big difference. They turn community service into community strength.
Show Up. Stand Up. Serve Atlanta.
At Hands On Atlanta, we’re proud to connect thousands of volunteers every year with projects that matter. Whether you’re tutoring a student, planting a tree, or serving meals, your presence is the heartbeat of our city’s volunteer movement.
If you have to miss a volunteer project, be sure to cancel your registration to give another volunteer a chance to serve. Reoccurring no-shows can result in our partners blocking you from future opportunities!
So the next time you sign up, show up. Because together, we make Atlanta stronger, greener, and more equitable.
Hands On Atlanta Week 2025: A Celebration of Service, Community, and Impact
What a week to remember! Hands On Atlanta Week 2025 proved, once again, that when Atlantans come together with purpose, amazing things happen.
In partnership with The Same House and their Beloved Benefit Beneficiaries, this year’s Hands On Atlanta Week (October 4 - 11, 2025) brought people from every corner of our city to serve side by side — building connections, transforming spaces, and spreading love through action.
Hands On Atlanta Week 2025 in Review!
What a week to remember! Hands On Atlanta Week 2025 proved, once again, that when Atlantans come together with purpose, amazing things happen.
In partnership with The Same House and their Beloved Benefit Beneficiaries, this year’s Hands On Atlanta Week (October 4 - 11, 2025) brought people from every corner of our city to serve side by side — building connections, transforming spaces, and spreading love through action.
7 Days of Service, 1 Powerful Impact
Over just seven days, volunteers powered 8 marquee projects, supported 320+ community projects, and dedicated more than 5,000 hours of service. Together, that’s an estimated $165,505.40 in volunteer time value, a tangible reflection of Atlanta’s collective care and commitment to making a difference.
From revitalizing parks and schools to supporting local nonprofits and community events, every hour spent made a meaningful mark. And beyond the numbers, the energy was contagious, full of smiles, teamwork, and a shared belief that small actions can spark big change.
The Power of Partnership
Our partnership with The Same House and the Beloved Benefit community brought a powerful focus on equity, connection, and belonging. These collaborations highlight what’s possible when organizations, businesses, and neighbors unite around a shared vision of service. Meet the Beloved Benefit Beneficiaries below!
Latin American Association
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP volunteers spent their Saturday restocking LAA’s pantry and packing meal bags for families across Atlanta.
Atlanta Technical College
Regions Bank volunteers a Beloved helped complete the greenhouse by moving soil, building metal tables, and preparing the space for future students to learn and grow in their horticulture program.
Westside Future Fund
Alston & Bird volunteers helped refresh and beautify a redevelopment site for Westside Future Fund
City of Refuge
Regions Bank volunteers packed care kit bags to be distributed throughout our community, each one helping meet essential needs and spreading compassion across Atlanta.
New Life Community Alliance
Community volunteers alongside OneDigital, and the Hands On Atlanta crew served inside New Life Community Alliance’s Garments of Grace Clothing Store. They helped to organize and stock the store, spreading dignity, warmth, and love, one hanger at a time.
Partners for Home
Regions Bank volunteers assembled Home Kits for families transitioning into new spaces. Together, Regions volunteers packed Bedroom and Kitchen Kits to help families feel at home and supported as they begin their next chapter.
Big Brother Big Sister of Metro Atlanta
On Friday, volunteers from CBRE joined us to prepare bags for BBBS’ Littles & Bigs Picnic, and on Saturday, our Civic Fellows and volunteers from Alston & Bird distributed bags, served food, and led the pumpkin painting table.
A Big Thank You to Our Volunteers
To everyone who rolled up their sleeves, invited friends, shared photos, and spread the word, thank you. Your impact reaches far beyond this week. You’ve shown what “Hands On Atlanta” truly means: love for our city in action, community in motion.
As we look ahead, let’s keep that spirit alive. Every project, every hour, every act of service moves Atlanta closer to the kind of city we all believe in — one where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Learn more about upcoming projects, volunteer opportunities, and ways to stay involved at handsonatlanta.org
Atlanta Way day community presenters: United Way, Metro RESA & International Community School
In DeKalb County, International Community School (ICS) serves over 500 students whose families represent 60+ nationalities speaking 31 languages. In 2025, ICS adopted a Community School Model — transforming itself from a traditional school into a neighborhood anchor that weaves together academics, wraparound support, and community resources. This transformation is powered by a three-way collaboration among United Way of Greater Atlanta, Metro RESA (Regional Education Service Agency), and ICS itself.
Community School Model: United Way, Metro RESA & International Community School
In DeKalb County, International Community School (ICS) serves over 500 students whose families represent 60+ nationalities speaking 31 languages. In 2025, ICS adopted a Community School Model — transforming itself from a traditional school into a neighborhood anchor that weaves together academics, wraparound support, and community resources. This transformation is powered by a three-way collaboration among United Way of Greater Atlanta, Metro RESA (Regional Education Service Agency), and ICS itself.
The approach pushes past the “school walls only” model. Students come into a supportive ecosystem where academic enrichment sits alongside family services, social support, health and behavioral resources, and links to community partners, all coordinated under a unified vision. In their presentation, they described how ICS has long been a microcosm of multicultural promise and challenge. In 2025, they became the first elementary school in Metro Atlanta to launch a formal Community School Model: integrating academic excellence with wraparound services, family supports, and proactive community partnerships.
Through this model students with unmet health or attendance challenges are being connected to childcare, counseling, ESL supports, legal assistance, and after-school programming. Families accessed resource navigators onsite, and community organizations offered classes, workshops, and connection hubs in school facilities. It’s reframed the school as a neighborhood anchor, not just a classroom.
The group also highlighted their metrics for success: improved attendance, reductions in chronic absenteeism, greater family engagement, and stronger academic resilience among multilingual and refugee learners. Their roadmap includes deepening partnerships with civic and nonprofit actors, expanding community use of school spaces, and scaling the model into adjacent schools.
Here’s how each partner contributes:
ICS (the school): Serves as the locus — providing physical space, teacher engagement, parent outreach, and integration of academic programming with external partners.
United Way of Greater Atlanta: Offers fundraising capacity, connections to nonprofits, cross-sector mobilization, and infrastructure support.
Metro RESA: Brings regional educational strategy, training, resource alignment, and coordination among schools, districts, and external providers.
Key components of the model include
Integrated wraparound services — Mental health, nutrition, family support, language services, enrichment, mentoring, and more.
Cross-sector partnerships — Local nonprofits, health providers, social service agencies embedded on site or coordinated.
Parent & community engagement — Engaging families as co-creators in programming and decision-making.
Data-driven coordination — Shared metrics, referral tracking, continuous feedback across partners.
How can others use this model?
Schools or districts can pilot community school models using this collaboration as a playbook.
Nonprofits and service providers can partner to embed services in school settings.
Donors and foundations can underwrite core infrastructure costs (coordinator roles, data systems, wraparound services).
Policymakers and education leaders can explore incentives, funding mechanisms, or policy frameworks that support community schools.
“We were deeply impressed by the community presenters at the first Atlanta Way Day on September 25, 2025. Their projects reflected incredible diversity—from education and mental health to civic engagement and social impact—but all shared a powerful core theme of collaboration to strengthen our community. Atlanta Way 2.0 is thrilled to both shine a light on their work and provide a $1,000 award to support their continued impact. We congratulate each of them on advancing Atlanta’s spirit of collective progress.””
How can I help?
Volunteer as a tutor, mentor, or after-school enrichment provider at ICS
Offer or coordinate wraparound services (e.g. legal clinics, adult education, health fairs) on campus
Advocate with local school systems or funders to adopt community school models
Visit Atlanta Way 2.0 to learn more and discover how you can help shape Atlanta’s next chapter, one act of service at a time.
Atlanta Way Day Community Presenters: Kindred Lane & ATL DTN
At Atlanta Way Day, Kindred Lane and ATL DTN shared how they transformed vacant downtown spaces into native plant gardens by partnering with property owners, businesses, and residents. Their pilot sites showcased environmental benefits like reduced maintenance and stormwater control, along with social gains such as increased foot traffic, community pride, and local engagement. Through ongoing feedback and collaboration, they refined their design approach and laid the groundwork for citywide expansion.
Downtown Native Plant & Wellness Initiative: Kindred Lane & ATL DTN
Downtown spaces deserve to breathe again. Too often, concrete replaces connection, planters sit empty, alleys go unused, and green spaces fade from view. Yet our city’s need for nature, calm, and community has never been greater. That’s where Kindred Lane and ATL DTN (Atlanta Downtown) come in! At Atlanta Way Day, presented by Atlanta Way 2.0, their collaboration is reimagining underused urban spaces as vibrant native-plant gardens. Their work brings color, shade, and biodiversity back to the heart of the Atlanta — creating places where we can pause, connect, and thrive together.
Kindred Lane brings design acumen, horticultural knowledge, and community vision in landscape and wellness spaces. ATL DTN, with its role as the downtown advocacy, events, and placemaking entity, offers connections to property owners, local stakeholders, and maintenance partnerships. Together, they can transform Atlanta’s vacant and neglected hidden gems into thriving native plant corridors.
At Atlanta Way Day, Kindred Lane and ATL DTN shared how they transformed vacant downtown spaces into native plant gardens by partnering with property owners, businesses, and residents. Their pilot sites showcased environmental benefits like reduced maintenance and stormwater control, along with social gains such as increased foot traffic, community pride, and local engagement. Through ongoing feedback and collaboration, they refined their design approach and laid the groundwork for citywide expansion.
The initiative promises
Low-maintenance, climate-resilient plantings — Native species that thrive locally and reduce upkeep.
Wellness nodes — Small seating, shade, and micro-refuge spots where downtown workers, residents, and visitors can pause.
Green corridors of connectivity — Stitching together small garden pockets into walkable “green pathways.”
Community stewardship model — Engaging corporate, resident, and nonprofit volunteers to adopt, maintain, and program these sites.
“We were deeply impressed by the community presenters at the first Atlanta Way Day on September 25, 2025. Their projects reflected incredible diversity—from education and mental health to civic engagement and social impact—but all shared a powerful core theme of collaboration to strengthen our community. Atlanta Way 2.0 is thrilled to both shine a light on their work and provide a $1,000 award to support their continued impact. We congratulate each of them on advancing Atlanta’s spirit of collective progress.” ”
how to get involved
Sponsor a node (e.g. adopt a planter, garden pocket, or tree well).
Provide corporate volunteer teams for planting and maintenance.
Participate in downtown garden build days or plant-installation events
Advocate for downtown policy incentives that promote nature-based urban infrastructure
Visit Atlanta Way 2.0 to learn more and discover how you can help shape Atlanta’s next chapter, one act of service at a time.
Atlanta way day community presenters: I Will Survive, Inc. & West Cascade Medical Center
On Atlanta Way Day, I Will Survive, Inc. & West Cascade Medical Center showcased how their AI-powered mobile health unit bridged care gaps for families lacking access to preventive checks and mental health support. Visiting churches, shelters, and food pantries, the team delivered screenings, risk assessments, and wraparound referrals. While noting challenges like cost, privacy, and community trust, they shared how their model proves that high-tech and high-touch care can thrive together in underserved communities.
AI-Powered Mobile Wellness: I Will Survive, Inc. & West Cascade Medical Center
Cancer survivors, medically underserved populations, and families with limited access to care often face a double burden: physical health needs and emotional trauma, all exacerbated by barriers like transportation, digital divide, and fragmented services. The collaborative initiative between I Will Survive, Inc. and West Cascade Medical Center aims to bring prevention, screening, and wellness directly into communities, via a mobile health unit enhanced by AI-powered tools.
I Will Survive, Inc. is known for its mission to support women, families, and survivors — especially in navigating the long journey of healing, resilience, and health. West Cascade Medical Center contributes clinical capacity, medical oversight, and integration with existing health systems. Together, their AI-Powered Mobile Wellness Project is more than a mobile clinic — it’s a mobile bridge.
Key Features
AI-driven screening and triage — The unit will use smart tools to flag risks, assist early diagnosis, or direct follow-up care.
Multilingual support & culturally fluent staff — To ensure dignity and trust for people across languages and backgrounds.
Trauma-informed care built in — Not only checking physical health markers, but attending to emotional and mental health needs in the same visit.
“Digital health passports” — Enabling patients to carry health records, reminders, and follow-up plans across providers and visits.
On Atlanta Way Day, presented by Atlanta Way 2.0, they showcased how their AI-powered mobile health unit bridged care gaps for families lacking access to preventive checks and mental health support. Visiting churches, shelters, and food pantries, the team delivered screenings, risk assessments, and wraparound referrals. While noting challenges like cost, privacy, and community trust, they shared how their model proves that high-tech and high-touch care can thrive together in underserved communities.
“We were deeply impressed by the community presenters at the first Atlanta Way Day on September 25, 2025. Their projects reflected incredible diversity—from education and mental health to civic engagement and social impact—but all shared a powerful core theme of collaboration to strengthen our community. Atlanta Way 2.0 is thrilled to both shine a light on their work and provide a $1,000 award to support their continued impact. We congratulate each of them on advancing Atlanta’s spirit of collective progress.””
How you can lend support
Volunteer health professionals (nurses, mental health clinicians, community health workers) to staff mobile wellness days
Advocate for grants or corporate partnerships to underwrite AI infrastructure or vehicle maintenance
Help promote upcoming mobile wellness events to communities in need
We invite you to join us in supporting this project’s growth: become an activator, help amplify their impact, or directly engage with mobile wellness events in your own neighborhood. Visit Atlanta Way 2.0 to learn more and discover how you can help shape Atlanta’s next chapter, one act of service at a time.