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Assistance team volunteer Cece Webster working from home.
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CAC is working hard to meet the needs of those in our community hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are awed by the outpouring of support and at the same time astounded by the requests for help. In CAC's 32 years of service, never have so many people in our community asked for help.
From the minute schools and the community began shutting down on March 13, rather than closing up shop, CAC kicked into high gear to design new ways to serve with most CAC buildings closed to the public.
The financial assistance team developed a new system for providing rent assistance working from home via phone and online, bringing volunteers up to speed in record time. They have since processed four times the number of financial assistance applications than was typically handled in the office each month.
With the self-shop food pantry market now closed, a revised volunteer force in the pantry is pre-packing bags of food and handing out bags at the door.
Since many CAC volunteers are retirees and began to shelter in place, a younger set of volunteers suddenly home from work and school stepped up to fill in the gap.
Some services had to be temporarily suspended, such as the thrift shop, but others continued online such as adult education classes. Our volunteer teachers and students, many who had limited technology experience, quickly shifted to online learning!
We are grateful for neighbors who are coming up with innovative ways to conduct food drives and fundraising drives to benefit CAC and help their neighbors during this unprecedented time of need. Along with public and private grants more than $1M has been raised for CAC for COVID relief but another $1M will be needed to meet continuing requests for help.
The upcoming weeks and months will be just as challenging as we determine ways to best re-open all CAC services for clients, volunteers and the general public. We look forward to welcoming back our CAC community in the safest ways possible. Please follow us on Facebook or check our website for updates moving forward.
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Rent Crisis Creates Difficult Decisions
CAC's financial assistance team is now working from home but is very much on the front lines helping local families and individuals stay in their homes. In many cases people seeking rent assistance from CAC have not received any other assistance and have nowhere else to turn for help.
Our assistance team is having to make difficult choices in distributing funds: help those who are waiting for assistance for the first time or help people with a second month of rent to prevent eviction. CAC has received more than 1,400 requests for assistance and has distributed $505,000 to 465 families as of May 31, compared to an average of $25,000/mo in 2019. Thanks to supporters, CAC is helping as many local families as possible as funds remain available but the need is great and will continue to increase until people are employed again.
Brenda Letzler, a long-time assistance team volunteer and CAC supporter has been working with clients via the phone from home.
"We hear of so may different ways that COVID-19 has impacted those in our area, and I feel honored to be able to get them help with food and rent when so many are having a difficult time receiving unemployment," said Letzler.
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Things were going well for Steve and his family with a young daughter and twins on the way. But since the coronavirus crisis began they have lived with uncertainty and stress. He's a private contractor in the film and TV industry
. They moved to GA for work 5 years ago. When the coronavirus crisis began in March he was impacted right away, his i
ndustry has been shut down since and is not planning on coming back until maybe January of next year. His wife who works for a day care center was also sent home. They cut their household budget but by late April were running out of savings. St. Vincent de Paul pledged $300 toward their rent and referred them to CAC where Steve talked to Bob on our assistance team. CAC covered the balance of their rent for May. "We were extremely grateful, I'm embarrassed, but grateful. I just want to thank the people of CAC," he said through tears. His wife began to receive unemployment benefits but Steve has yet to despite applying 2 months ago. "If I could get unemployment we could make it but right now we are really struggling," he said. Without enough funds for June rent the couple is trying sell belongings for cash, going to their landlord to request relief and considering moving to live with family in California. CAC is helping as many families as possible but the need is great. Your donations make an immediate impact on the lives of our neighbors like Steve facing difficult situations.
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COVID-19 Assistance by the Numbers
CAC is receiving 4 times as many requests for help than on average following job losses due to the economic shutdown. Since the COVID crisis began CAC has:
- Helped 1,773 families or households overall. More than half of them are new to CAC.
- Received more than 1,400 requests for assistance.
- Provided 465 families with rent assistance totaling $505,000 from mid March - end of May. Compared to an average of $25,000 per month in 2019.
- Provided food to 1,476 households, distributing 229,000 pounds of food. With many families getting food more than once a month the pantry is receiving 400-500 visits a week! Compared to 1,300 visits a month in 2019.
- CAC is delivering food to more than 100 senior citizens, medically fragile or home-bound individuals each week.
As the requests for assistance continue to come in, CAC, with your support, will continue to help as many families as possible during this unprecedented time.
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Grass Roots Community Efforts to Help
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Huntcliff Summit staff maintaining social distance while giving donations to CAC.
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Sunrise of Huntcliff Summit fundraiser
CAC volunteer and Huntcliff Summit resident Kay Hunt organized a fundraiser among fellow residents of the senior citizen apartment building who were looking for a way to help, they raised $3,000!
Electronic and clothing recycle event with eWaste ePlanet organized by Gina Gill raised more than $7,000 for CAC and much of the clothing collected was donated for CAC to sell in the thrifts shop!
Keller Williams First Atlanta conducted a food drive for their annual company-wide service day and collected 2,630 pounds of food for CAC!
The Front Porch Project by Irene Gomez Photography
120 families "captured" on their front porches during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period in exchange for a donation. All donations given to 2 local nonprofits, including $3,100 to CAC!
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Donations Welcome to Meet Requests for Food
CAC is giving food to 400-500 families a week! The pantry is low on important staples. If you are able to donate food, CAC is in need of these items:
Soup
Rice
Canned Pasta Meals (raviolis etc.)
Canned Vegetables (green beans, peas, mixed)
Meat Entrees (canned chili, beef stew, Hormel
Completes)
Macaroni & Cheese
Juice and Milk boxes for kids
Baking Mixes (muffins, biscuits, cake etc.)
Food Pantry Hours for Donations & Distribution
9:30 am - 1:30 pm, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
CAC Food Pantry,
8607 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30350
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More than Just a Food Pantry
Greetings CAC,
We are somewhat in a state of mourning and sadness, concerning the Pantry of CAC.We want to express that it was one of the best pantries in the State of Georgia. When bus transportation was available, it is not available now as MARTA suspended routes making it exceptionally hard for me and my husband as seniors, I enjoyed waiting in line, and talking to others at CAC. We especially were happy to see the many different volunteers and workers, who were helpful, overwhelmingly being of service, and enjoyed serving others. Going to the pantry evolved into a social outing, as created by CAC in pantry atmosphere. WE DO MISS THINGS AS THEY WERE. Thank You for placing us on a door-to-door delivery. We can not come there due to lack of transportation. WE DO MISS THE VOLUNTEERS AND WORKERS. PLEASE GIVE ALL OF THEM OUR BEST.
- A CAC Client
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New Volunteer Opportunities
Several volunteer opportunities are available at CAC! New and previous volunteers between the ages of 15 and 65 are welcome for onsite volunteering while we ask our more senior volunteers to continue to stay at home due to COVID-19. Volunteers would ideally be able to commit to a regular schedule such as once a week since positions require training. We also have opportunities for phone work from home.
If you have thought about joining our team to help your neighbors in need now is the time! Contact Nolan at
[email protected].
Food Pantry Check In
This new position entails working on site at 8607 Roswell Rd, talking to new and existing clients in person to verify documentation and using a computer. Training provided. Available time slots: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9am-1:45pm.
Sign up here.
Thrift Shop Donation Sorters/Pricers
In anticipation of re-opening the thrift shop at a later date, we will soon begin taking donations again and need volunteers to sort, hang and price donations of clothing and home goods. Training provided.
Sign up here.
Food Pantry Packing and Donation Processing
Volunteers are needed to pack bags of food on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. About 250 bags of food are packed each of those days. Involves some heavy lifting. Other duties may also take place on those days such as taking in and processing donations and stocking shelves.
Sign up here.
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Helpline 770-552-4015 - Online Request
Food Pantry
8607 Roswell Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30350
Branch Offices
120 Northwood Drive, Suite 234, Sandy Springs, GA 30342 (closed)
5 Dunwoody Park South, Bldg 5 Suite 113, Dunwoody, GA 30338 (Thursday for Food only)
Mailing Address PO Box 501298, Atlanta, GA 31150
Office 770-552-4889 | Helpline 770-552-4015
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Funding for CAC is provided in part by the City of Sandy Springs, Fulton County Human Services
and the United Way of Greater Atlanta.
The Community Assistance Center (CAC) brings together the Sandy Springs and Dunwoody communities to provide compassionate assistance to neighbors in need by providing financial support, helping to meet basic needs and promoting self-reliance. CAC works to prevent homelessness and hunger locally with the support of 28 congregations of all faiths, public and private grants, civic organizations, schools, businesses and individuals. Supporters provide financial resources, in-kind donations and volunteer manpower.
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