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1. MUST Ministries Mobile Pantry.
Bridging The Gap to Volunteers BY SUSANNAH O. MACKAY
The events of the last few years have touched every member of our community. From isolation and loneliness to job loss and hunger, we have all come through this difficult time in need of encouragement and support. There is one answer to this challenge that can strengthen everyone: service. The simple act of serving helps those in need, and heals those who serve. There is something each of us can do, individually or with our families, clubs or faith-based organizations. But, sometimes, it’s hard to know how to get started. If you’re looking for service opportunities in our area, JustServe.org is a free nationwide website and app that works to match volunteers with nonprofit organizations. The goal of JustServe is to unify and strengthen communities, and the tool’s popularity recently has grown in the metro Atlanta area. By providing organizations with another resource for recruiting volunteers, and allowing volunteers an easy way to identify opportunities, JustServe is helping communities pull together and meet needs where they are happening. In our area, JustServe has partnered with
nonprofits including MUST Ministries, Simple Needs Georgia (SNGA) and more. “MUST Ministries is so grateful for the JustServe platform, which helps us find amazing volunteers to serve our neighbors in need,” said Angel Radford, MUST Ministries’ director of volunteer services. “We can always depend on the JustServe volunteers to come with a servant’s heart and work hard. We love being able to partner with them to advance the work in our community.” A partnership with Aroundabout Local Media will showcase different service opportunities monthly. If you run a nonprofit or are looking for ways to make service a regular part of your life, check out JustServe.org. You can sign up for regular updates and learn more about nearby organizations, too. JustServe makes it easy to just go out and serve. Susannah MacKay is a local JustServe specialist. She grew up in Marietta and loves helping strengthen her community through service! Follow her on Facebook @JustServeGeorgia.
The MUST Ministries Mobile Pantry bus visits locations throughout Cherokee and Cobb counties for pop-up food pantries. Volunteers, ages 12 and older, meet the bus at the location and help set up the pantry, assist clients with food needs, and tear down the pantry at the end of the event. https://bit. ly/3djfE5K.
2. Simple Needs Georgia Comfort Kits. When new guests arrive in local homeless shelters, they often do not have much with them. To help them feel more comfortable, SNGA provides them with a duffel bag containing toiletries and other items they will need during their stay. You can help by purchasing items, donating money toward the project or putting the bags together. https://bit.ly/3doampn.
TOWNELAKER | January 2022
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