East Cobb Community Service Archives

MUST leader on COVID challenges: ‘Let’s not let this define us’

September 15, 2020 5:59 PM by Wendy Parker

Rev. Ike Reighard said he realized how serious COVID-19 was going to be when churches and casinos closed at the same time in March, as lockdowns began.

Cobb non-profit funding delayed — *Rev. Ike Reighard*

“When Heaven and Hell agree, we ought to take note,” quipped the senior pastor at Piedmont Church in East Cobb and president and CEO of MUST Ministries.

He told an in-person and online meeting of the East Cobb Business Association Tuesday that one of Cobb County’s prominent non-profits had its hands full tending to the crushing need for food, clothing, shelter and job assistance as pandemic-related closings threw thousands out of work and homes, and needing help providing the basics for their families.

Before they could do that, he said, the MUST staff had to reorganize its own staff, especially since they couldn’t rely on a volunteer army of around 17,000.

Instead of serving around 33,000 people in a typical year in an eight-county area, MUST has provided some form of help to nearly 125,000 people since March alone.

“We’ve already quadrupled what we do in an entire year,” Reighard said.

That includes more than a million meals, a million pounds of food for direct distribution and via pantries, putting up 238 households in motels when the MUST shelter closed and serving 78,000 total households in one form or another.

Another 400,000 meals have been provided to school students over the summer, in conjunction with the Cobb County School District, as well as other partnerships.

“To witness how people come together like this is one of the most encouraging things I’ve ever seen,” he said. As overwhelming as the needs have been, “even more overwhelming is the generosity of this community.”

He was asked to inspire business leaders who like so many have been adversely affected by the economic impact of the response to the virus.

Brimming with his usual enthusiasm, Reighard said the only way to approach such daunting challenges is that “you have to choose your attitude.

“We decided we would have to rise above the situation. We weren’t going to shut our doors. We just couldn’t disappear in our community when our community needs us the most.”

He said his staff had to “get really creative” when its main food supplier, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, became overwhelmed with requests from other non-profits.

MUST volunteers helped distribute student meals at various schools that were paid through the federal school lunch program.

With the Cobb County School District phasing in classroom returns next month, Reighard said work is finishing on restocking 39 food pantries in some of those and other schools.

Next month, MUST will break ground on a new 130-bed shelter on its current campus on Cobb Parkway near Bells Ferry Road. It’s the first phase of a two-phase process to nearly double capacity, as construction will continue into MUST’s 50th year in 2021.

Reighard said while needs in the community will remain high and the challenges to provide basic services will prove considerable, “let’s not let that define us.

“We’ve got a lot of obstacles ahead of us, but we’re going to get through this. The best is yet to come.”

MUST continues to accept donations at its donation center (1280 Field Parkway, Marietta), from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For information on making financial contributions, click here.

Cobb non-profits can apply for relief grants with SelectCobb

August 29, 2020 12:09 PMAugust 29, 2020 8:02 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

Cobb County Government is partnering with SelectCobb to offer the county’s not-for-profit organizations a $2M funding opportunity to help mitigate financial hardships created by the coronavirus pandemic. The SelectCobb Not-For-Profit Grant will provide up to $25,000 to eligible, Cobb-based 501c3 non-profits to use on rehiring and maintaining personnel and other COVID-related expenses.

The SelectCobb Not-For-Profit Grant application opened Thursday, Aug. 27 on www.selectcobb.com/nfpgrants. Applications close on Friday, Sept. 11 at 5 p.m.

“Cobb County is home to a strong and robust non-profit community,” says Kevin Greiner, president and CEO of Gas South and Chairman of SelectCobb for the Cobb Chamber. “Our non-profits serve Cobb’s most vulnerable populations. And, while each organization has felt the impact of the pandemic through decreased revenue, each has been called to meet a higher demand of service. We are so grateful to be able to partner with Cobb County Government to provide the SelectCobb Not-For-Profit Grant as a financial lifeline to these organizations.”

To be considered for the SelectCobb Not-For-Profit Grant, non-profit organizations must meet the following requirements:

Not-for-profit organization must be a 501(c)(3) organization that files a 990, 990N or 990-EZ form with the IRS;

Not-for-profit organization must have 100 or fewer full-time, W-2 employees, i.e., employees working at least 30 hours per week or 120 hours per month;

Not-for-profit organization headquarters or primary location must be in Cobb County;

Not-for-profit organization may be home-based or located in commercial space;

Not-for-profit organization must have been in continuous operation for a minimum of 1 year as of July 28, 2020;

Not-for-profit organization must have a current registration with the Secretary of State’s office and be current on all required 990 filings, and;

Not-for-profit organization must certify if they have received PPP and/or CARES Act SBA loans funds as of time of application submittal.

“I’m grateful that the Cobb County Board of Commissioners in partnership with the Cobb Chamber has found another way to give hope to these significant partners in our county,” said Mike Boyce, Cobb County Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.

Once the application period closes, SelectCobb staff will review all applications to ensure eligibility. All eligible applications will be reviewed by an independent selection committee to recommend grant recipients and grant amounts, per the eligible tiers. A scoring matrix will be used to review each application so that it is a fair and equitable process. For a full list of eligibility requirements and more information about the application process, visit www.selectcobb.com/nfpgrants.

East Cobb Rotary plans ‘No K’ event in lieu of Dog Days Run

July 30, 2020 1:01 PMJuly 30, 2020 8:56 AM by Wendy Parker

Dog Days Run

Instead of what would have been the 15th anniversary of its 5K Dog Days Run next month, the Rotary Club of East Cobb is conducting its biggest fundraiser in different fashion fitting the times.

What it’s calling a “No K” run will still be taking place starting in August, culminating with a final event on Oct. 17, and you don’t even have to run. You can if you like, but it’s a virtual event that will still include prizes for participants. The proceeds of entry fees will still be used to help a number of local organizations and charities that the Rotary Club works with.

The race typically drew around 1,000 runners on a 5K course at and around the McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA, but COVID-19 concerns aren’t going to make that possible.

Here’s more about how the process will work:

We’re hoping to enable thousands of our neighbors to contribute to our community through not running. It’ll be a footrace-themed event that will play out on social media and DogDaysRun.com through August, September and October will conclude with a live recap and awards ceremony on Facebook Live from McCleskey East Cobb YMCA on October 17. We’ll still have folks registered to not run. We’ll still have awards for participants in all age groups. It’ll still count for the Grand Prix. We’re just not actually racing.

There’s a full list of beneficiary organizations at the same link above, and they include the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts, Center for Family Resources, East Cobb Robotics, the MDE School of East Cobb, the Cobb Public Safety Celebration, the McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA and the AVID program at Wheeler High School.

Before the pandemic, the Rotary Club set a hefty fundraising goal, of $125,000 (last year it raised $82,000 from the Dog Days Run).

More registration information will be coming soon and can be found here. The Rotary Club also provides updates on its Facebook page.

East Cobb auto shop owner holding school pantry food drive

July 24, 2020 2:40 PM by Wendy Parker

Brumby Elementary School food pantry — *Brumby Elementary School is among those in the Cobb County School District with a food pantry.*

On Sunday East Cobb auto shop owner Fred Massey is opening up the parking lot to his business to collect donations for Cobb school district food pantries in conjunction with MUST Ministries.

You can drop off food at Massey Automotive (2050 Lower Roswell Road) between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday. It’s part of a “50 with $50” challenge that’s asking 50 families to spend $50 to help stock up the pantries.

Massey also is asking those participating to call on two other families to participate.

Here are the items that are requested:

Canned corn, canned mixed fruit, canned pasta, canned vegetables, chunky soup, jelly, instant noodles, boxed macaroni and cheese, canned pasta and rice.

Because of social distancing issues, participants will not have to get out of their cars to make donations.

If you do donate, you’ll be eligible for 10 percent off at the adjacent Zaxby’s location at a later day.

Call Fred Massey at 404-731-4466 if you have questions.

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Delta Community CU accepting philanthropic fund entries

July 20, 2020 12:21 PMJuly 20, 2020 11:21 AM by Wendy Parker

Delta Community philanthropic fund — Cobb-based Tommy Nobis Center is a past winner of a Delta Community Philanthropic Fund grant, receiving $10,000 for its Early Youth Employment Services program, which offers job and life skills training to special needs students throughout metro Atlanta.

Submitted information and photos:

Delta Community Credit Union (www.DeltaCommunityCU.com), Georgia’s largest credit union with $6.8 billion in assets, has begun accepting applications for its 2021 Philanthropic Fund grant program.

Throughout 2021, the program will distribute a total of $125,000 to 20 non-profit organizations committed to the health and well-being of young people and financial literacy and education, including programs focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEM/STEAM).

Since its inception, the Delta Community Philanthropic Fund has invested $630,000 in 148 non-profit organizations that offer education, career training, and health and human services to tens of thousands of people in metro Atlanta.

“We have seen, first-hand, the positive impact these worthwhile organizations make in the lives of individuals, children and families,” said Delta Community CEO Hank Halter. “As our Philanthropic Fund enters its eighth year, we remain committed to investing in initiatives that support education and the physical and financial health of those who live in the communities we are privileged to serve.”

The application window for the 2021 Delta Community Philanthropic Fund closes Aug. 31, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Applications must be submitted via the online portal at www.DeltaCommunityCU.com/PhilanthropicFund.

In addition to its Philanthropic Fund, Delta Community invests in local communities through school sponsorships, scholarship programs, and support of chambers of commerce, industry partners and civic organizations.

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Wheeler student uses art, advocacy to assist young refugees

July 15, 2020 6:39 PMJuly 15, 2020 12:37 PM by Wendy Parker

Wheeler student assists refugees

Manav Shah, a student at Wheeler High School, sends along the following information and photos about his work with young refugees in Clarkston, and the “Liberated Voices” initiative he started to address issues they face in adapting to American society.

“As Manav interacted with youth at the refugee enclave in Clarkston, Georgia (called the Ellis Island of South), he realized that they faced an uphill battle during the resettlement process in United States. Manav’s further interactions led him to understand the various xenophobic experiences refugees faced on a daily basis resulting in drug abuse and even violence amongst these youth. To help refugee youth cope with these stressful conditions and combat discrimination, Manav started an initiative called “Liberated Voices” that engages youth in critical conversations regarding identity, racism and discrimination. He uses art as a vehicle of communication, because it is independent of language and literacy, and could be the portal into youth’s minds and what they have witnessed. His workshops features artists like Ai WeiWei and Bansky who have ignited social and racial change in local communities by creating ‘protest art’.

Manav Shah

Amina, a participant of these workshops had lived in the United States for more than 5 years, but she was still very anxious to start high school. Amina and her family had left Somalia after the civil war broke out and were forced to live in refugee camps in Kenya. They were amongst the few who got a chance to move to the United States and have been in living in Clarkston, GA for the past few years. She was mocked at and called names like “penguin” as she would wear a hijab at her middle school. She was very worried that she would not fit in her high school.

Amina has been participating in workshops offered by LiberatedVoices and says that these workshops offer a safe environment for her to engage herself in critical conversations regarding identity, racism and discrimination with other refugee youth. She learned about ‘protest art’ and was able to sketch her own experiences with racism and persecution. Amina was able to explore what constitutes “American” identity, and how to be proud of her culture and religion.

Besides Clarkston, Manav has worked with Yazidi refugees in Lincoln, Nebraska and the Rohingya refugees in Chicago, Illinois, empowering about 500 middle-and-high school refugees and minorities. Manav’s honor comes with a $1,000 prize, which he plans to reinvest in his protest art workshops this summer. He has already been able to expand his workshops in Kenya with about 250 children and is in active conversations with refugee communities in Nepal, Belgium and Iraq. His other experience in race relations includes starting a Diversity Club at his school and an internship with Columbia University for research in refugee policies.

“This is what really motivated me – this almost unbreakable cycle of distress peers my age were facing helped me realize that things needed to change,” Manav said. “I’ve learnt so much and been so inspired by my young mentees! One of the biggest things that’s even applicable to my life is that even the smallest changes can make a huge impact. I’ve realized that everyone can change and re-engage in their communities in good ways! That really goes to anyone – especially high school students who want to get involved with improving race relations within their communities. Youth have the power to create any change they want to see if they are passionate. Just go for it!”

Wheeler student assists refugees

MUST Ministries receives $15K grant from Atlanta financial advisor

July 10, 2020 11:57 AMJuly 10, 2020 8:47 AM by Wendy Parker

MUST Ministries $15K grant

Submitted information and photo:

Each year, Northwestern Mutual recognizes financial advisors who go above and beyond in giving back to local communities through its Community Service Awards program. Earlier this year, through its Foundation, the company announced a donation of more than $310,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations on behalf of the 2020 recipients.

As part of the award, 16 company financial advisors are each recognized with a grant to benefit a nonprofit he or she is involved with. Local resident Mike Hendley, a financial advisor for Northwestern Mutual in Atlanta, has been recognized as a 2020 recipient of the award, receiving a $15,000 grant for MUST Ministries.

“Our Community Service Awards program honors advisors who go above and beyond in an effort to lift up their communities nationwide through action,” said Eric Christophersen, president, Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “Fueled by passion and commitment to service, these advisors continue to better the lives of others through volunteerism.”

MUST Ministries addresses the basic needs of individuals in the Atlanta area by providing food, housing, jobs, healthcare and clothing. Hendley first became involved with the organization 25 years ago, when a friend suggested they begin regularly volunteering together at a local organization. This became a lasting tradition, as Hendley continues to serve meals at MUST’s homeless shelter every month, in addition to serving on the organization’s board of directors and regularly participating in other volunteer activities.

“As a father of four, my biggest heartache is seeing the increasing number of homeless children at the shelter,” said Hendley. “I’m thankful to say that the funds from this grant will be used toward the construction of a new homeless shelter, designed to accommodate more women and children. It is our goal to build a shelter that provides dignity and respect to all who come to MUST needing our services while on the path to stability.”

To support those impacted by the global health crisis, MUST Ministries has converted 50 food pantries into curbside pick-up programs, where boxes of groceries are provided to every family that visits. In just eight weeks, the organization has fed over 42,000 people and helped 585 people find housing.

Since 1995, the company has donated more than $6 million to nonprofits through the Community Service Awards program. The 2020 winners were announced at the company’s regional meetings earlier this year, with grants to be presented to nonprofits throughout the country.

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Week-long Tommy Nobis Center virtual silent auction starts Friday

July 9, 2020 2:48 PMJuly 9, 2020 12:44 PM by Wendy Parker

Tommy Nobis Center silent auction

We noted last month that the Tommy Nobis Center was accepting items for its silent auction, and that’s starting on Friday in virtual format.

Angela Christian, the center’s project manager and board coordinator, said the auction gets underway Friday at 9 a.m. and ends next Friday, July 17, with a Facebook Live event. Here are the details:

A wide range of items will be available for bid including an Atlanta Braves package, a State Farm Arena experience package, a Dan Reeves autographed football, a New York Prime Steak House four-course dinner and wine pairing, a one-year membership to the High Museum of Art, and Chick-fil-A for a year.

Auction items may be previewed in advance and accessed for bidding at www.tnc20.givesmart.com.

The auction will conclude with a Facebook Live stream hosted by TNC program participants on July 17 at 4:30 p.m.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/TommyNobisCenter to attend. Funds raised through the auction directly support Tommy Nobis Center’s programs and services for youth and adults with disabilities.

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Lassiter PTSA, Sprayberry Community Group holding food drives

June 20, 2020 12:06 PM by Wendy Parker

A couple of organizations in Northeast Cobb communities are continuing efforts to help feed families in need during the summer.

The Lassiter PTSA food pantry is holding its next food distribution day next Friday, June 26, and organizers are saying you can provide a monetary donation as well as food items.

Organizers say around 60 families in the Lassiter community (including its feeder schools, Davis ES, Garrison Mill ES, Rocky Mount ES, Mabry MS, and our neighbors Tritt ES, Shallowford Falls ES and Pope HS) rely on the pantry to meet family food needs every week.

More information is available by e-mailing lassiterptsa@gmail.com. You can also use this link while out shopping if you want to contribute items.

The Sprayberry Community Group is collecting and distributing food every week to anyone who needs it, and details are at the flyer below.

If you want to drop off food, come by the Piedmont Church (570 Piedmont Road) Tuesdays between 3-7 p.m. If you need food, come to the same location Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m.

The group provides regular updates on its needs and activities on its Facebook page.

Sprayberry Community Group Summer Food Drive

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Tommy Nobis Center accepting bids for July silent auction

June 20, 2020 11:37 AMJune 20, 2020 8:36 AM by Wendy Parker

From Angela Christian, Project Manager and Board Coordinator of the Tommy Nobis Center, comes the information below about the non-profit’s annual silent auction, which is coming up July 10-17.

The event will raise money for the Northeast Cobb-based center’s work providing job training and other services for people with disabilities.

You can place your bids for the auction now and get related information at TommyNobisCenter.org.

Tommy Nobis Center silent auction

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East Cobb Rotary partners with YMCA in hunger relief effort

June 17, 2020 3:47 PMJune 17, 2020 9:40 AM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Rotary YMCA hunger relief

Submitted information and photo:

The East Cobb Rotary and The YMCAs of East Cobb both stand out as leaders in the hunger relief efforts of our community. The Cobb YMCA facilities have always been about growing a stronger community through feeding programs year round, but with the help of the prompt, proactive East Cobb Rotary’s partnership, The Y began distributing much-needed meals to food-insecure households from school age children to seniors. Since the beginning of the health crisis, the East Cobb Ys have been responding in new and unique ways because of the unwavering support of the East Cobb Rotary.

This impactful donation of $15,000 has been vital to sustaining The Ys operations to deliver hunger relief programs serving over 1150 families each week. Before the official start of the school’s out summer break, The East Cobb Ys had already served more meals than we served all of last year. Unprecedented needs in our community, were met with unprecedented generosity from the East Cobb Rotary members. The ability to expand our already robust summer feeding program throughout Cobb County at this urgent time allows us to provide emergency relief, and the ability to provide ongoing help through one of the busiest time – the summer months.

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Georgia House passes MUST Ministries-inspired sandwich bill

June 15, 2020 3:11 PM by Wendy Parker

State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick

Both houses of the Georgia legislature have easily approved a bill by an East Cobb lawmaker that would allow non-profit organizations to make sandwiches in church and similar kitchens as part of their efforts to feed those in need.

The House on Monday passed SB 345, the so-called “Save Our Sandwich Bill” by a 150-12 vote, after passing the Senate 53-0 in March, before the legislative session was shut down due to COVID-19.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, an East Cobb Republican, changed a provision in state law that allowed only sandwiches that had been prepared in certified, licensed kitchens.

Sponsored in the House by Rep. Bart Reeves of Marietta, the bill still prohibits the distribution of sandwiches made in private homes.

(You can read the bill here.)

The bill will be sent to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature. The legislature, which returned to action Monday, still has to pass a state budget.

Last summer, right before its summer lunch program began, Cobb-based MUST Ministries was told by the Georgia Department of Public Health it could not distribute homemade sandwiches, even those that had been made for years in church kitchens, and by other civic organizations.

MUST scrambled to raise money to purchase sandwiches made in approved kitchens, and is doing the same this summer.

Since COVID-19 shut down schools in March, MUST has teamed up with the Cobb County School District to provide meals for students, and is continuing that program through the end of June.

MUST also is providing summer meal kits through July in East Cobb at Blackwell Elementary School (Mondays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church (Fridays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

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Cobb Community Food Fleet rolls out to feed those in need

June 7, 2020 1:44 PM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information and photos:

Cobb Community Foundation (CCF) is pleased to announce the Cobb Community Food Fleet, an initiative where they have brought together Noonday Association, Athena Farms, the Atlanta Braves, Ryder Trucks, S.A. White Oil Company, Mobilized Fuels, and numerous Cobb County non-profits to ensure that lack of storage space does not hinder Cobb non-profits’ food distribution efforts to those in need.

This initiative began, unnamed, in mid-March when CCF reached out to United Way of Metro Atlanta – NW Region and Cobb Collaborative to assist in pulling together a group of non-profit, school district and county government leaders to share the challenges each group and their constituencies were facing, make known the resources each group had available, and determine the best path forward to meet needs in Cobb County. The original group, labeled the Cobb Crisis Response Team, began with daily 7:55 a.m. calls on March 23^rd which have been slowly whittled down to one call a week. One of the many outcomes resulting from this group’s efforts is that in an environment where over 100,000 Cobb Countians have lost their jobs, more than half of them being in the lowest paying industries, Cobb’s non-profits are providing boxes of food to over 5,000 families each week.

Howard Koepka of Noonday coordinates the communications among twenty-plus separate organizations distributing food in Cobb County, ranging from MUST Ministries to the two school systems to Cobb Senior Services to smaller organizations such as H.O.P.E. Family Resource Center in Mableton. “Many of these organizations did not know that each other existed,” Koepka says. “Now, they not only are aware of each other, they are eliminating duplications of services, identifying and serving areas unserved, and literally sharing food, box trucks and other resources to make sure that everyone in Cobb County has access to food, regardless of whether or not they can pay for it.”

One of the greatest challenges facing these organizations is limited access to large quantities of food as a result of the disruption to the supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the USDA’s new Farmers to Families Food Box Program has created an abundance of certain foods, primarily produce, which Cobb’s food providers want to take full advantage of. The issue, according to Koepka, is storage. “Produce needs to be refrigerated, and no single organization has enough space to accommodate the two and soon three thousand boxes that are now coming in each week from Athena Farms.”

Athena Farms, located in Forest Park, is one of over 40 contractors in the South East Region that was awarded funds from the USDA to distribute food boxes. Jessica Brantley, Director of Purchasing for Athena Farms, explains why they reached out to Cobb Community Foundation. “We really liked that they are working to help resource non-profit food providers serving Cobb, so working through them is helping to feed much more than just the clients of a single organization.” Last week, Athena delivered 2,000 boxes of produce, and even larger shipments will be coming at least through the end of June. As is the case for many farms, Athena’s primary customer base is restaurants. “The Farmers to Families Food Box Program has put all of our employees back to work,” says Brantley.

“While at least some of the immediate food shortage challenges have been resolved, we had to resolve the storage issue if food was going to make its way to those who need it,” says Shari Martin, President and CEO of Cobb Community Foundation. “Our mission statement includes the phrase, connecting donors who care with causes that matter.” She continues, “The Atlanta Braves stepped up to provide the refrigeration space that avails all of Cobb’s non-profit food providers of the produce coming in, at a time when members of our community need it most.”

The one remaining need, however, was to be able to accommodate the scarcest item of all right now: meat. Poultry, pork, beef and fish all require a freezer, and the Atlanta Braves’ storage space was already full. What was not full, however, was their loading dock. Enter Kim Gresh, owner of S.A. White Oil Company and Cobb Community Foundation board member. “So many of our customers want to help right now, so we reached out to one that we knew would want to be involved.” Enter Huddle House and one of their vendors, Ryder Trucks. Ryder has made available a 53’ freezer container and trailer which Huddle House transported to the stadium. Alongside was Mobilized Fuels, S.A. White’s sister company, that will provide the diesel fuel needed to keep the freezer running between now and the end of August.

Over these next two months, Noonday will be coordinating the logistics of food delivery by Athena Farms and other providers and the subsequent pick-up by five of the larger food non-profits:

MUST Ministries, Storehouse Ministries, Reflections of Trinity, Sweetwater Mission, and Family Life Restoration Center. These organizations will be picking up food not for their clients, but also for other smaller non-profit food providers. The involvement of the for-profit community, the non-profit community, and even the local and Federal governments to provide, store and deliver food throughout Cobb made Cobb Community Food Fleet the ideal name for the initiative.

In the meantime, Cobb Community Foundation continues to identify resources, financial and otherwise, to help feed Cobb. “Thanks to the Cobb Board of Commissioners grant of $1 million for food last month,” notes Martin, “these organizations will be able to purchase additional food needed in bulk.” Martin says this will allow the non-profits greater access and preferred pricing. “And thanks to these great partners, we’ll have a place to store it.”

Frozen meat and canned and dry goods remain in demand, and Martin and her team are on the hunt. “This is just another opportunity to connect donors who care with causes that matter.”

Learn more by contacting Shari Martin at shari@cobbfoundation.org, or by visiting www.cobbfoundation.org.

First responders treated to lunch by East Cobb realtor

May 27, 2020 10:37 AM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb realtor first responders lunch

Submitted information and photo:

On Thursday, May 21st, The Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team held an appreciation barbeque lunch to honor local police, firemen, and EMTs. The Capital City Home Loans grilling food truck served up burgers and hotdogs with a variety of sides sponsored by other local partners. Attendees were welcome to use the “social distancing patio” to enjoy their meal or take it on the road. Event sponsors and members of the Janice Overbeck Team had a great time serving guests and appreciating them for what they do day-to-day. Additional sponsors for the event included: Arrow Exterminators, First American Home Warranty, Amerispec Home Inspection, Chick-fil-A East Lake and Perrie & Associates. Local Cobb County and surrounding area first responders, police, fire, and detective units were all invited. Lunch was also packed up and delivered to Cobb County 911 dispatch. For more information on community events at the Janice Overbeck Team office, visit: www.JaniceOverbeck.com.

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East Cobb realtor to treat first responders to BBQ luncheon

May 19, 2020 9:56 AMMay 19, 2020 7:50 AM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb realtor first responders luncheon

Submitted information and photo from 2019 event:

On Thursday, May 21st from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, The Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team will host an appreciation barbeque lunch to honor local police, firemen, and EMTs. A grilling food truck will serve lunch and attendees are welcome to use the “social distancing patio” to enjoy their meal or take it on the road.

Event sponsors, and members of the Janice Overbeck Team look forward to serving guests and appreciate them for what they do day-to-day. Sponsors for the event include: Capital City Home Loans, Arrow Exterminators, First American Home Warranty, Amerispec Home Inspection, Chick-fil-A East Lake and Perrie & Associates. Local Cobb County and surrounding area first responders, police, fire, and detective units are all invited.

Attendees are encouraged to rsvp to janiceoverbeck@janiceoverbeck.com.

Kincaid ES student granted Make-A-Wish to stay connected

May 12, 2020 1:09 PMMay 12, 2020 10:21 AM by Wendy Parker

Kincaid student Make-A-Wish

From Make-A-Wish Georgia comes word that a student at Kincaid Elementary School in East Cobb has been granted his special wish during these days of social distancing.

Brandon Long is 11 years old and since he was three has been living with chronic pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that gets worse over time.

According to Amy Alvarez, vice president of marketing and communications at Make-A-Wish Georgia and who provided the information and photos, Brandon has already missed a lot of school due to his illness. Kincaid student Make-A-Wish

Classroom instruction was closed in March due to COVID-19, and Brandon’s wish was for virtual communications tools that kids and adults alike are turning to these days.

Last week Make-A-Wish Georgia wish granters presented Brandon with an iPhone 11 and iPad, a wish he says “will help him stay connected to community and feel less lonely while he works hard to stay healthy.”

He also received a special visit from his grandparents and an uncle whom he had not seen since the pandemic began (photo below).

“While the world has been disrupted, this new normal of isolation is something that Brandon is sadly all too familiar with,” said Jennifer, Brandon’s mom. “But then Make-A-Wish Georgia reminded us that isolation doesn’t mean that we can’t still have connection.”

“These unprecedented times have given Make-A-Wish Georgia an opportunity to reimagine the way we bring wishes to life for local wish kids,” Alvarez said. “In times of fear and isolation, we are here to bring hope and joy.”

Kincaid student Make-A-Wish

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If you have Coronavirus-related event changes, business openings or closings to share with the public, e-mail us: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

Contact us at the same e-mail address for news about efforts to assist those in need, health care workers, first responders and others on the frontlines of combatting Coronavirus in East Cobb.

East Cobb PPE Makers group gives boost to medical workers

May 5, 2020 12:13 PMMay 4, 2020 1:51 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb PPE Makers group

Reader Ariel Starke passes along information and photos about a group of East Cobb residents who’ve quickly formed to make masks and scrub caps for workers at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital and other local medical facilities.

The East Cobb PPE Makers Facebook group scrambled into action after responding to a local nurse who posted on the East Cobb Mom’s Exchange group about needing a scrub cap.

Kim Deuster, who started the PPE Makers, takes the story from there:

“She is a nurse in the emergency department at Kennestone Hospital, and the hospital was requiring their staff to wear the caps as one more barrier to being exposed to COVID-19. When I told her I could do it for her, another nurse sent me a message asking if I could make 100 caps. When I realized the man hours and material needed, I knew I could not do this alone. I reached out to several friends, asking for material donations and sewing volunteers on every board I belong to. Within 3 days I had a basement full of supplies, 20 sewers and multiple volunteers offering to run material and caps all over the East Cobb area. We were able to produce over 300 caps for 7 local healthcare facilities within two weeks.”

The East Cobb PPE Makers continuing to produce PPE items, as the group’s membership has grown to more than 125.

Maxwell’s husband is a critical care doctor at the Kennestone Pulmonary Group, and posted this video of their PPE items being put to rapid use.

Kids Care collecting ‘Kindness Cards’ for COVID-19 workers

May 4, 2020 12:09 PMMay 4, 2020 7:59 AM by Wendy Parker

Kids' Care Kindness Cards

Submitted information from Kids Care, a youth-oriented community service and volunteer organization that’s sending “Kindness Cards,” notes of appreciation to local COVID-19 frontline workers:

To date, 400 Kindness Cards of encouragement and thanks have been collected by KIDS CARE & given to Cobb County Hospital Staff, Fire, EMS, Police & 911 Dispatch Personnel during this challenging time.

Please bring your home-made offerings of “Thanks” to any of the business locations listed on our website as a Kindness Card Drop Off Location. We will be collecting Kindness Cards for a few more weeks.

In addition, email jannd@forartssakeusa.com, your message and a greeting card with your written message will be delivered to a Frontline worker for you.

All details can be found at https://www.kids-care2018.org.

FYI: There is an East Cobb dropoff location, at the entrance to Williams-Sonoma store at The Avenue East Cobb (4475 Roswell Road, Suite 800).

You can drop off cards there from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday curbside, weather permitting. During inclement weather the box will be placed under the store awning.

Cobb schools, MUST to provide student meals through June

May 1, 2020 5:03 PM by Wendy Parker

New East Cobb Middle School

The joint effort between the Cobb County School District and MUST Ministries to provide student meals to those who need them will continue into the summer.

The district announced Friday that it would extend food distribution of weekday breakfasts and lunches that began in March, when schools were closed due to the Coronavirus crisis.

East Cobb Middle School is one of eight sites in the Cobb district that has been a pickup point for those student meals.

“What most people don’t know about distributing food to students is local taxpayer dollars aren’t spent on food for students, Federal dollars are. These eight sites were selected because they allow us to be reimbursed by the Federal government, many of our schools across Cobb don’t allow for that option,” Cobb schools chief operations officer Marc Smith said in a statement issued by the district.

Pre-K students, rising kindergartners, recent graduates under 18, and new students to the district are eligible to receive the food, which is handed out by MUST volunteers at the designated schools each Monday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The students must be present in order to receive the food.

More than 217,000 meals have been distributed thus far, according to the district, which estimates that another 225,000 meals will be provided the next couple of months.

While the Cobb schools summer vacation goes until Aug. 1, the school district’s fiscal year 2021 budget takes effect July 1.

Normally the district and Cobb school board would be working on the new fiscal year budget in April and May. However, they cannot because the Georgia legislative session was suspended before the state budget, including education funding appropriated to school districts, was finalized.

A date to resume the legislative session hasn’t been announced, but some leading lawmakers are suggesting mid-June at the earliest, when Georgia’s extended public health emergency is due to expire.

SCENE IN EAST COBB: Messages of hope on Johnson Ferry Road

May 1, 2020 1:21 PMApril 30, 2020 1:52 PM by Wendy Parker

Johnson Ferry Road messages of hope

Motorists heading south along Johnson Ferry Road can see a steady stream of signs as they pass the Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul.

From the church’s driveway at the intersection of Bishop Lake Road to its back parking lot, the intermittent signs read “Don’t Give Up!” (and its Spanish equivalent, “No Te Rindas,”), “You Are Not Alone,” “One Day at a Time” and “You Got This!”

(In the background of the first and last photo is Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.)

The messages are meant to comfort during the Coronavirus crisis, but they also extend to part of the broader ministry of St. Peter and St. Paul. The church conducts a monthly food box pickup event in conjunction with There’s Hope for the Hungry, a North Georgia ministry that also includes Mt. Zion and Noonday Baptist Church as participating congregations in East Cobb.

Those in need can pick up a free box of food can come to St. Peter and St. Paul (1795 Johnson Ferry Road) on the first Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The next pickup event is this coming Tuesday, May 5.

Tom Martin, head of service ministries at St. Peter and St. Paul, said the food distribution program started in early 2019. When visitors come by, they’ll get a box with enough food to feed a family of four for two weeks.

The church also has provided voluntary spiritual counseling sessions for those needing help getting back on their feet. Martin said that won’t be happening in May because of the COVID-19 situation, and food distribution also will be done in accordance with social distancing guidelines.

On Tuesday, those picking up food are asked to pull into the main driveway and follow signs to the back of the church. Once there, they’ll receive a food voucher and delivery of the food box in their trunks, without having to leave their vehicles.

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Got a story tip, photo or other news item about East Cobb? Send it to us and we’ll share it with the community. E-mail: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

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