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In 2020 people were impacted by COVID in different ways but the one constant was the outpouring of support and the creative ways in which people found to help their neighbors in crisis. Whether it was giving time to volunteer at CAC onsite or remotely, making financial or food donations, organizing group funding or food drives among neighbors, clubs or work colleagues. Because of the unprecedented support from the community CAC was able to distribute more than $2 million to neighbors for rent assistance in 2020 compared to $290,000 in 2019. CAC also distributed approximately $1.4 in in-kind goods. While we look forward to a better year ahead, the impact of COVID is still affecting many of our neighbors as evidenced by continued high volume of requests for help. Together with your support we are continuing to help as many of our neighbors in crisis as possible. We thank you for caring about your neighbors during this challenging time. As services and needs at CAC change we will continue to keep you updated throughout the new year.
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Honoring MLK Jr. Day by Helping Others
Thank you city of Dunwoody and Jack and Jill of America for organizing the "Souper Bowl of Caring" and aiming to collect 50,000 pounds of food for the Community Assistance Center and Malachi's Storehouse! Multiple sites across the city collected food throughout the month. Food donations can still be made at CAC's Food Pantry, 8607 Roswell Rd, Sandy Springs 30350 Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
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Donors Help Children During the Holidays
CAC's Adopt-a-Family for the Holidays was a great success in 2020! Donors provided holiday gift cards to 1,478 children from 590 families! The holiday program gave families who came to CAC for help in 2020 a little extra help for holiday gifts for the children. This year, due to COVID-19, we asked adopters to make donations for gift cards rather than provide gifts from wish lists. While it's not as hands on, 283 individuals and 14 organizations contributed $100,600 to adopt all of the children in the program! CAC also provided 1,015 households with grocery store gift cards for holiday food valued at $63,300!
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A Disaster Away from Homelessness
The COVID-19 economic crisis has threatened people from all walks of life with homelessness as their livelihoods were suddenly cut off. Since the crisis began CAC has been receiving 4 times as many requests for assistance than before COVID. CAC's assistance team of staff and volunteers has been working hard to process as many applications as possible each week and month to help our impacted neighbors pay rent and prevent homelessness.
Like Ben, who was working for a local cleaning business and supporting himself before being furloughed due to COVID closures. Ben was resourceful and quickly found an overnight warehouse job until another unexpected crisis occurred. While driving Ben was hit by a distracted driver resulting in severe injuries and a totaled vehicle.
Ben's apartment complex referred him to CAC. Together we were able to establish a plan that included paying his rent for two months while he applied for disability benefits to help tide him over while he underwent physical therapy. In addition, Ben was able to use weekly job listings compiled by a CAC volunteer to find a job that he could do from home that does not involve physical labor. The only thing that kept him from immediately accepting a job offer was his old laptop had died. Imagine the excitement in his voice when we told him CAC had a free refurbished laptop for him! Because people care enough to give to CAC Ben is now supporting himself once again.
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COVID Assistance Provided By CAC in 2020
Served 9,188 individuals from 3,466 households overall.- a 41% increase in individuals served compared to 2019 - more than half of these families were new to CAC Distributed $2,024,254 in emergency financial assistance for rent and utilities helping 1,348 families. - a 598% increase in assistance distributed over 2019 ($293,835) Gave food to 6,452 individuals from 2215 households.- a 44% increase in individuals and 17% increase in households over 2019 Distributed 54,659 breakfasts and lunches to 735 children.Delivered weekly food to senior citizens, medically fragile or home-bound individuals.
Adopt-a-Family for Holiday Gifts, holiday food gift cards, and school supplies all served more individuals and households than in 2019.
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Give Time to Help Others in Need
CAC is seeking volunteers interested in helping our neighbors experiencing difficult times. Remote and on-location opportunities available!
Financial Assistance, remote
ESOL Teachers, remote
Food Pantry
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Shop Upscale Thrift for Fabulous Finds!
Spin the discount wheel for possible savings on purchases!
Fabulous Fridays!
Take 25% off furniture and 50% off everything else the store the third Friday of every month!
Shopping Hours
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
(Retail store shopping hours open to clients and the public.)
Donation Hours for Clothing & Home Goods Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Located at:
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Helpline 770-552-4015 - Online Request
Food Pantry - Upscale Thrift
8607 Roswell Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30350 Branch Office
5 Dunwoody Park South, Bldg 5 Suite 113, Dunwoody, GA 30338 (for food only)
Mailing Address PO Box 501298, Atlanta, GA 31150
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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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