Assistance League of Atlanta

Assistance League of Atlanta, a nonprofit that helps more than 60,000 children and adults in need each year, launched its Backpack Buddies program in September. The allvolunteer organization delivers 30 backpacks filled with weekend food each week to Dresden Elementary School.

It’s the first time the organization has helped people with food, according to Carol Mason, vice president of philanthropic programs.

“There is a great need in the Atlanta area to provide food for those that are hungry,” Mason said. “We are pleased to be able to feed the children at Dresden for the weekend when they might not have anything to eat.”

Through its programs and a network of community partners, the Assistance League provides new clothing, household goods, hygiene kits, comfort items, baby layettes and educational aid to those affected by poverty, abuse and homelessness. “We love what we are doing to help those in need. We are an organization of very happy people,” Mason said.

Programs are funded by monetary donations and grants and from the sale of donated clothing, household goods and furniture at the Attic Treasures Thrift Shop in Chamblee, at 3534 Broad St. For more info, visit assistanceleague.org/atlanta/thrift-shop.

A counselor speaks

Ruth Blackstock is a counselor at Dresden Elementary School, where 93% of more than 1,000 students receive free and reduced-price meals. Here’s what Blackstock had to say about Backpack Buddies:

“Dresden Elementary started working with the Backpack Buddies program in August 2019. Our first distribution was 9/20. We have distributed every Friday since.

We received almost 300 applications interested in being part of the program. We are currently receiving food for 60 backpacks per week. We hope to increase that number to 100.

Distributing 100 backpacks of food per week is about all we can handle with our current level of volunteers to tag and distribute the bags, track receiving individuals in a spreadsheet and track the bag returns.

Our PTO parents have been the backbone of the tagging and distributing. We so appreciate them!

The students are proud to be receiving the backpacks. They are grateful they can bring some help to their households.

We are so thankful to Congregation Beth Shalom, Congregation B’nai Torah and the Assistance League for their faithful donations and support of our students and families.”