Margaret Miller

Virginia Native Moves to Woodstock to Help Youth

BY MARGARET MILLER

Meet Angela Thornton, a local attorney who has a passion for advocating for homeless youth. The Woodstock resident is a member of Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church. Her passion and experience led her to accept a position as chief advancement officer and general counsel with the Center for Children and Young Adults (CCYA), a residential treatment program that serves homeless youth in Atlanta and surrounding areas.

“I graduated from the University of Virginia, with distinction, and majored in psychology,” Thornton said. “I continued into UVA’S doctoral program in school clinical child psychology.”

In order to combine her psychology degree with a law degree, she accepted a full scholarship to attend Western New England College School of Law, formerly Northeastern University, in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The native of Alexandria, Virgina, worked for the state of Massachusetts early in her career and, later, for the federal government, heading programs dealing with domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, as well as adult protective services cases.

Thornton previously worked with CCYA’s CEO, Kimberley Borna, who invited Thornton to visit the residential program and subsequently offered her the job as chief advancement officer.

“CCYA houses up to 42 coed youth, ages 12-21,” Thornton said. “(It’s) mission is to provide safe housing, youth development activities and comprehensive supportive housing services for at-risk homeless youth who have been abandoned, abused, neglected and/or sexually exploited.”

When asked how the program defines success, Thornton said: “We define success as graduates achieving educational objectives, maintaining stable employment and having access to appropriate food, shelter and clothing, as well as obtaining a positive outcome in terms of their dental, visual, mental and physical health and development.”

Funding is a problem for this small nonprofit program. Thornton explained that the state does not pay for the number of beds under contract, so CCYA staff must fundraise year-round, in order to meet the program’s financial needs. To learn more, visit https://ccyakids.org.

Left, Angela Thornton. Above, Center for Children and Young Adults students prepare to learn new skills.

Margaret Miller has been a resident of Cherokee County for the past decade. Her writing hobby led her to become a columnist for community and daily newspapers.

Lend a Helping Hand

Many of our friends and neighbors struggle financially every day, and the holiday season is especially difficult. As Christmas approaches, the needs among local nonprofits have increased as the directors and volunteers are working to make sure everyone has a great holiday season. Here’s a list of organizations devoted to helping others. Please do what you can to help, whether it’s donating money or time.

Adopt a Senior 2022

www.cherokeega.com

Cherokee County Senior Services is collecting the following gift items for local seniors: a new bed sheet set, a $25 grocery gift card, a book of stamps and other nonperishable items, such as toiletries, word searches, candy, etc. Please place gifts in a holiday gift bag (no wrapping please). Gift drop-off is 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, through Dec. 2, and a special Saturday drop-off is 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 3. Gifts may be taken to the Cherokee County Senior Center, 1001 Univeter Road, in Canton. For more information, call 770-3453025 or email bmkiser@cherokeega.com. Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program

https://bit.ly/3lkJMlV

Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program is looking for candidates for the eighth annual Holiday Adopt a Vet program. The focus is on helping low-income veterans, those in senior living facilities, as well as homeless veterans, this holiday season. If you know of a veteran family in need, or you want to help volunteer for this program, contact Jim Lindenmayer at 678-983-7590 or jlindenmayer80@gmail.com.

Items are needed for the program’s annual drives and events, such as 10 bicycles for boys or girls for the Adopt a Vet program. Donors also can drop off gently used winter coats for the annual coat drive, Christmas cards for senior veterans (they do not have to be personalized), toiletries, flashlights with batteries, hand warmers, good gloves, emergency blankets and first aid kits to American Legion Post 45, 160 McClure St., in Canton. To schedule a donation drop-off, contact Jim Lindenmayer, or call or text Betty Lewis at 770-318-6451.

Cherokee Family Violence Center

www.cfvc.org/donate-now

Cherokee Family Violence Center has a transitional housing complex, with 72 apartments and an emergency shelter that accommodates 12 women and children affected by domestic violence. The Christmas wish list includes weekly meals through the holidays for shelter residents, canned items (like soups, meats, fruits and vegetables) and over-the-counter medications for cold and flu season. Additional donation items include unscented laundry pods, dishwashing pods, paper towels, toilet paper, paper plates, plastic utensils, new pillows, white linens for twin and full beds, white towel sets (washcloths, bath towels and hand towels) and new undergarments for all ages. Contact 770-479-1804, ext. 101, or volunteers@cfvc.org.

Cherokee Recreation & Parks Agency

www.playcherokee.org/200/Hugs-in-a-Blanket

Cherokee Recreation & Parks Agency is collecting items in support of helping seniors in need. Donations for the Hugs in a Blanket campaign will be taken through Dec. 14. Donors can bring a new warm blanket and new slipper socks to the recreation center, during regular business hours, at 7545 Main St., Building 200, in Woodstock. For more information, contact Jessica Hallman at jshallman@ cherokeega.com or 770-924-7768.

Cherokee Secret Santa

www.cherokeesanta.com

The Secret Santa program of the Department of Family and Children’s Services of Cherokee County offers a way for individuals, businesses, schools, churches or groups such as Sunday school classes or Boy and Girl Scout troops, to help the more than 375 children in foster care this year. Sponsors can be matched with specific children or collect speciality items needed to service the program. All levels of contributions are accepted. All size donations are appreciated. For more details, call the Secret Santa phone line at 678-235-5519.

Cherokee Thanksgiving

www.cherokeethanksgiving.com

The 30th annual event, on Nov. 24, was open to everyone. Organizers partnered with Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q in Canton to serve more than 2,000 free meals, by delivery and pickup, in Cherokee and Pickens counties. Volunteers are needed beyond Thanksgiving, to help coordinate fundraising, expand the website, organize volunteers and create more awareness for the nonprofit.

The Children’s Haven www.CherokeeChildrensHaven.org

This nonprofit promotes the health and happiness of children in Cherokee affected by abuse and neglect. The group works to ensure their safety, advocate on their behalf and respond to meet their needs. Holiday needs include Christmas/holiday/winter-themed pajamas (sizes newborn to teen), as well as gift cards for Target, Kohl’s, Best Buy and similar stores. Volunteers always are needed to assist in the Caregiver’s Closet. Items can be dropped off at 1083 Marietta Highway in Canton. 770-345-3274.

Encompass Ministries https://encompassministriesinc.org

Encompass Ministries and its food pantry offer yearround food and stability, as well as life-skills training assistance. Special holiday needs: donations of turkeys, ham and nonperishable food items. A list of the Top 10 food needs is kept up-to-date on the website. Tax- deductible donations also are accepted on the website. For more details, call 770-591-4730.

Forever Fed www.foreverfed.org

Forever Fed, a mobile food ministry, hosts multiple food pantries a month in outdoor settings. There are many opportunities to partner with the nonprofit in building up our community with compassion: volunteer, donate nonperishable foods, send a financial gift or even hold a food drive. For a complete list of events and volunteer opportunities, visit the website. Goshen Valley Foundation

www.goshenvalley.org

Goshen Valley Boys Ranch attempts to provide a memorable Christmas experience for foster children, with the community’s help. This includes building traditions, talking about the true meaning of Christmas, as well as fulfilling young people’s wants and needs through gift giving, teaching them that they are loved. With 42 kids to purchase gifts for, Goshen Valley relies on the generosity of the community to fulfill these wishes. A list of gifts has been compiled on the Amazon website through a charity wish list. For details, visit http://goshenwishlist.org, email Executive Director Stacy Cooper at scooper@goshenvalley. org or call 770-796-4618 for a link to view gifts the boys have requested.

The Hope Box

www.thehopebox.org/donate

The Hope Box, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing abandoned babies and toddlers, needs donations via gift cards for Walmart and Target to cover the costs of car seats and other needs of mothers and infants in crisis. Mail gift cards to 3330 Cobb Parkway, Suite 324-180, Acworth, GA 30101. For more information, call 770-765-6301.

Meals for Woodstock

www.woodstockga.gov/about/outreach.php

Hot cooked meals are provided for free by donations and volunteers, 4-6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month at Vingenzo’s on East Main Street in downtown Woodstock. Other restaurants are encouraged to get involved in the community collaboration by contacting the Woodstock Office of Economic Development. To support the effort with a monetary contribution, visit the website; 100% of funds raised goes to the purchase of food for the program. To volunteer, visit https://bit.ly/3SWEef3 or email laynie.jones@fbcw.net.

A volunteer prepares food for a Meals for Woodstock distribution day.

MUST Ministries — Cherokee

www.mustministries.org

MUST Ministries long has been a source of help and hope to those living in poverty in Cherokee County. Christmas toy donations can be dropped off through Dec. 2, or as soon as possible (see the list of items needed below). Drop-offs are at MUST’s Canton location at 111 Brown Industrial Parkway. Please call Maurice Speaks at 770-721-2924 or email mspeaks@mustministries.org.

MUST Ministries Christmas toy needs include:

Teen Gifts

• Jewelry and watches • Adult coloring books and colored pencils • Headphones/earbuds • Sports equipment (balls, gloves, bats, skateboards) • Makeup kits • Calligraphy sets • Hair dryers/flat irons • Cologne/perfume/bath sets • Purses, wallets and belts

Toys for Ages 0-12

• Educational toys • Helmets and large bikes • Ethnic baby and Barbie dolls • Jackets and scarves • Legos • Blankets • Diapers • Hats and gloves • Hot Wheels tracks

Never Alone www.neveralone.org

The food pantry is seeking partners to help fight hunger in our community. The pantry provides more than 126,100 meals to approximately 800 households each month. Never Alone’s partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank allows it to purchase food at greatly discounted prices. Please consider making a taxdeductible donation online at www. neveralone.org, or by check, made payable to and mailed to: Never Alone Outreach, P.O. Box 1904, Woodstock, GA 30188.

North Georgia Angel House

www.angelhousega.com

The organization has served girls since 2006, by providing shelter, life skills, job readiness services, family support and more, for up to 40 females at a time. Current needs include: MP3 players, earbuds, gift cards for clothing or activities in the area and journals. Visit the website to donate, or shop on Amazon Smile and select North Georgia Angel House Inc as your charity to support. SERV International

https://servone.org/foodlocal

The nonprofit provides food to local families and to complex regions globally. With the help of volunteers, 800 SERV food boxes are delivered each month to families in need in Cherokee County and the surrounding areas. To sponsor a local family for $35 a month, visit the website. For volunteer opportunities, email info@servone.org.

Simple Needs GA

www.simpleneedsga.org

The Spirit of Christmas program helps school- and agency-referred families who are getting close to Christmas and were unable to register for other local programs earlier in the year. Volunteer opportunities include buying requested presents, wrapping gifts, making deliveries, sorting and organizing, and more. For more information, email brenda@simpleneedsga.org.

Toys for Tots www.toysfortots.org

Toys for Tots is a national program started by the Marine Corps. As a way of spreading joy to the less fortunate, Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys year-round to distribute to children in need during the holiday season. Visit the website for an updated list of collection sites in our area, including Cherokee County fire stations.

WarAngel Farms Rescue and Rehabilitation

www.warangelfarms.com

Keep a rescued horse or donkey warm this winter with a holiday donation ($150 per blanket). There are other opportunities for sponsorship of animals, such as horses, ponies, donkeys, pigs, cows and more, on a monthly basis. The nonprofit animal rescue appreciates the community’s part in helping the animals during the winter and yearround. For more information, or to sponsor your favorite animal, visit the Sponsorship tab on the website.

Volunteers organize food items for SERV Food Local boxes.