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The feature below is brought to you by Art in the Paint, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here. To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.  Art in the Paint was originally developed with an integral purpose of providing art and opportunities to underserved communities. The creation of the Community Champions League allows us to directly address this mission and provide options and opportunities to the neighborhood youth, making them feel connected to the community as a whole. I was walking on the beltline and I was parched. I saw free water for walkers and bike riders outside of wild beer heaven. I walked over to get water and saw a group of black kids on their bikes who were obviously thirsty. When I got my water I asked the kids why they didn’t get water. One looked up from his sip and said, “I didn’t know it was for us too.” This broke my heart and I knew then I’d have to do something to make the communities’ existing members feel as a part of the community as their new neighbors. That experience and conversations with law enforcement on the rise in crime amongst kids in their early teens is how the Community Champions League was developed. The Community Champions League consists of 10 teams of scholars from the neighboring areas of Atlanta. Scholars have practice and games each week, where we not only focus on fundamental skills of the game, but also focus on building character, establishing ways to solve conflicts and work through hurdles in day to day society. We have partnered with neighborhood organizations to allow them to host events at the court on the days of practice and games to allow scholars more access and exposure to what their community has to offer to them. Throughout the league we not only provide scholars with opportunities to play and learn basketball, we provide coaches with skills in mentoring youth and exposing them to problem solving skills, opportunities off the court, and exposure to professions that they may not be aware of. Our league is focused on connecting the community and bringing resources to the scholars at the court. With partnerships with other organizations like WeRestoreMore and FeedingGAFamilies we are focused on building the full character of all of our scholars and reminding them how important they are in the whole of the community and what the community can bring.
Art in the Paint sees beautiful, not only with the installation of court murals all around the city, the country and the world, but also with the development of youth of the communities into amazing people that can add to and help our society as a whole rebuild, flourish and be more just, unified and equal than ever before.
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The feature below is brought to you by Impact46, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here. To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.  In 1984, the Lawrenceville square was a place where you wouldn’t find a growing city filled with restaurants and languages. Instead, it was a place where you would see the KKK doing marches as the city was also housing an abandoned segregated school, Hooper Renwick. It was also a place where black men were lynched in the same place where people bought their livestock at the city’s courthouse. Lawrenceville’s history is important because it shapes the context for what we stand for and what we never want to repeat. In 2020, Lawrenceville had two major Black Lives Matter protest that were led by young adults under the age of 24. Many of these students and young adults voiced their opinions and we are learning how to be better listeners and using their passions to bring an evolution of change and leadership through opportunities. In 2018 Impact46 began initiating conversations around opportunities for students as we were thinking about how Lawrenceville would be defined in the future. With the pending question of legacy on our brains, we partnered with Central Gwinnett HS and the Lawrenceville Neighborhood Alliance to gather community information around the health of the community. We polled over 250 people via a community needs assessment asking residents about the assets and deficiencies in Lawrenceville. Many of the answers and concerns were around crime, aesthetics, and growth, but the majority of people desired more opportunities to develop their passions. Based on the understanding and research from the “Soul of the Community” study conducted by Gallop and the John McKnight Foundation, we knew that we had to build opportunities for our students to create an equitable city. As a city that is 30% Caucasian, 30 black, 30 Hispanic, and 10% Asian in racial make-up and with the most diverse 4 year college in the Southeast, we knew that we had begin with our youth if our future was to be inclusive and equitable. Since the inaugural year, the Summer of Impact has helped secure internships for over 50 students in the city of Lawrenceville at two of our minority-majority high schools, Central Gwinnett and Discovery. We believe that local education should be supported thru real world experiences as seen thru paid internships. Although the internships themselves help students discover their God-given purpose, passion, and influence, Impact46 took it a step forward by creating community leadership workshops. During the 8 weeks of Summer the students learn about asset-based community development and how to engage in their local community thru an interactive game, New Town. New Town allows theses students to dream about their vocation but in the context of where they live. The students volunteer at the largest community event in Lawrenceville, Prelude to the 4th, where they interview residents about their cities. They take the survey information and formulate this into a community impact plan that is shown to our city council, Mayor, and city staff. This plan is then incorporated into the daily life and commitment of the students as they enter their next school year as rising juniors, seniors, and/or college freshman. One of the beautiful things about the Community Impact plan is its ability to bring together various races, backgrounds, opinions, political affiliations, and stories to come together for the betterment of the city of Lawrenceville. As the students interact and rub shoulders with current community leaders they are being invited to be a part of the next development of the city. Many of these students have participated in city council meetings, student council, and the upcoming, City of Lawrenceville Youth Council. Many of our students were introduced to Lawrenceville thru the “Love Lawrenceville Day” where we partner students with a business/industry of interest represented in the city. These students have the opportunity to see insights as well as develop a professional network. Due to the students first impression on business owners, many of the local businesses have gone on to hire these students for the Summer of Impact. This small internship program has brought together people who had no excuse to meet, but by focusing on relationships and our city, we have been able to develop an equitable pipeline for students that is inclusive and filled with economic opportunities. Our end of the summer celebration looks more like a world leaders conference due to the diverse attendance. As a city, we are celebrating the changes in our community through invitation and equitable opportunity based community development. Submitted by: Jen Young The feature below is brought to you by Mahasin’s House Foundation, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here. To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.  D.R.E.S.S Equity is a program of Mahasin's House Foundation. Mahasin's House Foundation is committed to providing access to youth ages 12-19 years of age the ability to be well from the inside out. Our programs focus on urban gardening and fashion design. Our D.R.E.S.S Equity program teaches our youth about design, recycling, and educating one another by way of simple solutions. This program uses modules rooted in simple design to create clothing, recreate clothing, and share with others the knowledge of design. Every child should feel confident in how they dress. D.R.E.S.S equity allows for this to be possible in communities where financial resources do not always allow for the purchase of in style and self-expressive fashions. Since our beginning as a nonprofit we have been focusing on community involvement, teaching one another what we learn and how together we can change our realities for the betterment of all. Recycling clothing, sharing with others, and recreating outfits is good for the environment. We create beauty by learning about design, fabrics and how to use what is available or can be purchased at a low cost to transform wardrobes, boost confidence, and create lasting impressions and memories together. Every person is unique and deserves the ability to dress how they feel regardless of socioeconomic status. Together we create beauty by various designs, patterns, and rich discussions about how we can continue to make our planet a better place by how we show up for ourselves and one another. Learning about environmental responsibility, math, agriculture, and effective communication through team activities is a great opportunity for all of our students. We teach compassion, caring and attention to detail as we work through one-on-one activities and group projects. The confidence that comes along from creating whether it be from the seed of a plant in our agriculture classes or D.R.E.S.S Equity program is priceless. The excitement and smiles from our youth as they see their patterns and clothing be completed is absolutely priceless and beautiful. We create everyday clothing to more advanced garments such as prom dresses. The commitment of our team is heartwarming and the long-lasting relationships from the students and mentees in our programs is an honor. Mahasin House Foundation serves the Metro Atlanta area. We have transportation available to any child who would like to participate in our programming. We also offer community resources to families who attend our program and find themselves in circumstances needing more support. As a nonprofit serving the community, we are committed to supporting one another. Since 2017 we have served hundreds of youths and various community settings. We are looking forward to serving more families in person and virtual learning adventures to come. Submitted by: Sherita TaylorThe feature below is brought to you by St Anne’s Center/Lantern House, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here. To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here. Those of us who are securely housed do not often take the time to reflect how one misfortune might cause any one of us to fall into homelessness. Consider what you would do if you suddenly lost your job. What if you or your partner were diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and could no longer work? What if your landlord raised your rent beyond what you could afford? What if a natural disaster destroyed your home? How long could you survive without a paycheck? How long would your food storage last? Where would you turn to for help? These questions are becoming more prevalent for many individuals and families living in Northern Utah as the cost of groceries, gas, and housing rise. Despite a global pandemic, the cost of purchasing a home in Utah rose 30% in 2020 (Woodruff, 1), and rent prices are continuing to increase at an alarming pace – pushing the most vulnerable low-income individuals into poverty and homelessness. High demand and low housing supply have created a genuine crisis for buyers and renters alike, and as we see more and more individuals experiencing homelessness for the first time, we are tasked with finding new and creative solutions to help the homeless population get back on their feet. The reasons an individual becomes homeless homeless are as diverse as the individuals themselves, but the current economic climate throughout our state is creating a single looming problem: Current wages simply are not high enough to afford basic housing and food. For some, an unforeseen medical event can cause homelessness. For others, immobility within their careers is causing stagnant and unlivable wages. By understanding the root cause of what has pushed our clients into homelessness we can better target their needs and quickly move them out of homelessness and into a permanent residence. We know this is a complex problem. A problem we certainly cannot solve on our own, which is why we are partnering with so many local organizations like the Department of Workforce Services, Weber-Morgan Health Department, Housing Authorities, School Districts, Law Enforcement, and Medical Providers to create custom care plans that offer individualized wrap around services to support the unique needs of every one of our clients. Additionally, our shelter offers critical assistance to clients working to obtain jobs, housing, and independence by maintaining a free shop of gently used and new work clothes, transporting all homeless children to and from school and providing them with new clothing and school supplies, helping clients get to job interviews with free bus tokens and uber rides, and partnering with the local court system to hold on-site hearings and community service opportunities to expunge charges. Clients residing at our shelter become family, with each other, and our staff, but it is always our greatest joy to see them obtain and maintain independence. Despite the current challenges, we remain committed to our mission of caring for those who fall into homelessness with the shelter, food, and dignity they deserve. By working closely with our community partners, state representatives, lawmakers, and fellow human service organizations, we hope to create clear and direct pathways for our clients to become housed and stable, regardless of the economic changes our state is facing. Woodruff, Daniel. “Utah Housing Prices Hit Record Highs Again, but There Are Some Silver Linings for Buyers.” KUTV, 7 June 2021, kutv.com/news/local/utah-housing-prices-hit-record-highs-again-but-there-are-some-silver-linings-for-buyers. Submitted by: Hannah BowcuttThe feature below is brought to you by Peace of Thread, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here. To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.  Finding Refuge in the Beauty Peace of Thread is a nonprofit based out of Clarkston, GA that empowers, employs and advocates for women in vulnerable populations through the art of sewing. We envision a world where every woman has dignity, value and a voice. Our Founder and CEO, Denise Smith, says “Peace of Thread is proud to be recognized as a female-owned, global accessory brand built on relationships and quality work. Established in 2012 with a business plan to empower women, Peace of Thread has grown from pop-ups to selling products worldwide.” The beauty of Peace of Thread’s work is that we provide the opportunity for refugee women to work from home, meaning they can take care of their families and still make an income. Through working for Peace, these women also have access to free counseling, free medical care, free ESL classes, job training, and educational workshops. One of Peace of Thread’s core values is providing an atmosphere of peace for refugees to work in. The environment created within the training center is one of kindness, inclusion, love and safety. We create an atmosphere for learning culture, English and respect for not only others, but themselves as well. In Clarkston, women from the East and the West work together to master the challenges of managing a business. The seamstresses can develop life-long relationships with our team who may not understand their struggles but are more than willing to share the joys and sorrows of life. At Peace of Thread, we have created a beautiful backyard space, through the support of See Beautiful, where we’ve planted herbs and flowers, and the women and their children can feel protected and safe enough to be themselves again. Their children can engage in play therapy on our donated swing set while their mothers have space to rest. It’s truly beautiful to see these kids, who have come from such trauma and difficulty, simply become kids again. Other than the sheer beauty found in the reenabling of our women, the beauty that comes from their work is incredible. Every bag sold by Peace of Thread has been handled with an immense amount of care and love by our team. Each product is sewn one-of-a-kind and with up-cycled materials. All of the fabric, leather and straps have been donated by partners, such as the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. We take pride in knowing all our products have a story, just like our women, and no one product is the same, just like no one woman is the same. We teach them every products is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the inside. Their work allows them to make an income, which provides motivation and drive for the ladies to turn in their products routinely. They are learning many different jobs skills while working with us. We are committed to developing opportunities for women to support themselves through working, but also through relationships. We pair invested volunteers with each refugee artisan to bridge the gap between cultures, transfer skills, build confidence, and affirm dignity and value. This mentorship-based program allows for beautiful friendships and connections to form through genuine time together and intentional conversations. It provides another way for these women to feel welcome, seen and loved. Submitted by: Annie JonesThe feature below is brought to you by Restoration Atlanta, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here. To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.  Restoration Atlanta (RATL) has a mission to strengthen and equip under-resourced families to experience holistic restoration. The Restoration Atlanta Summer Camp and After School Programs provide students transitioning out of homelessness, and low-income students, with the opportunity to maintain a high level of academic achievement equivalent to children in permanent housing. The RATL programs were created to allow mothers to gain and maintain meaningful employment. RATL serves to provide no-cost childcare to low-income and homeless families. Our programs have the unique ability to provide up to 60 children from under-resourced families with a loving, safe, and structured environment during summer and after school hours. Concurrently, mothers who are experiencing homelessness and are utilizing RATL Programs participate in a 6-month empowerment program that leads to family stability and self-sustainability in the areas of housing and employment. RATL “Sees beautiful” by meeting families where they are, coming alongside them, and empowering them to reach their full potential. RATL was built on the premise that “Being with is more transformative than doing for.” This is meant to embody the idea that while providing resources is valuable, relationships are even more valuable. RATL recognizes that families may be experiencing homelessness for a myriad of reasons. We recognize that when they arrive at a shelter, they have likely already been on a long, arduous journey. Our goal is to be a breath of fresh air, and to “Be with” the families that we come in contact with. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, children experiencing homelessness have higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems, an increased risk of serious health problems, and have lower academic performance. A study done by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network shows homeless children have twice the rate of learning disabilities and three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems of non-homeless children. By the time children experiencing homelessness are eight years old, one in three has a major mental disorder. Most of the stress, anxiety, and depression experienced by homeless children is caused by the uncertainty in their lives. While the work RATL does with education is important for the future of these children, it is also important to recognize that giving children a consistent, stable space where they feel safe and loved matters for their physical and mental well-being. RATL’s staff members are trained on trauma-informed practices, enabling them to recognize and respond to the signs of trauma in the individuals and families they serve. In addition to being prepared to address specific trauma symptoms, RATL’s staff creates safe and supportive environments by modeling prosocial behavior and skills, maintaining clear and consistent boundaries, and delivering services in a nonjudgmental and respectful manner. RATL has the opportunity to transform lives through having a relational and programmatic impact. This testimony from a RATL mother speaks to the power of healthy community: Jasmine and her four children were living in an apartment, until the apartment complex was condemned due to mold. Forced from their home, they found temporary housing at a local shelter. When Jasmine arrived, she was grateful to find that her children would be cared for by the RATL team. They got involved in the daily after school activities, receiving individual attention. We offered friendship, help with school work and a safe space for the children to learn and grow. Meanwhile, Jasmine quickly gained employment and was able to focus on retaining her job. While her children received quality care, Jasmine was also able to get involved in RATL Women’s Programs and develop a healthy friendship with a RATL mentor - someone who had previously walked the journey of homelessness as a single mother of two. “RATL has played a huge role in our lives,” Jasmine said. “My children have grown at RATL and feel a special bond to it. My family is so blessed to be a part of RATL.” Jasmine has been able to keep her job and sustain an apartment for one year. The RATL team continues to stay connected with Jasmine and her family through RATL Women’s Programs, and her children continue to attend RATL Programs. We See Beautiful in the journey through homelessness and beyond. Friendships with families far outlast their time spent in a homeless shelter; we continue to stay connected with families as they move forward in life, reaching their full potential as individuals and as a family. When we welcome children into our programs, we also welcome the family as a whole. We “See beautiful” in each individual and in each family as a unit. We empower them through care, resources, and friendship. Each person that RATL has the opportunity to serve is beautiful, and we are honored to be a part of the journey of helping them discover that for themselves. Submitted by: Anna JacksonThe feature below is brought to you by Habitat for Humanity - North Central Georgia, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here. To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.  Habitat-NCG is a 501(c)3 housing ministry, and is an independently run and operated affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, building affordable permanent housing and providing essential homeowner sustainability education for families in the metro-Atlanta community. Habitat-NCG and the Housing Inequality Crisis: At Habitat-NCG we not only see the beauty in all genders, races, and communities, but we also see the blatant affordable housing gap that affects low income households. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, there are only 37 affordable homes for every 100 low income households in the United States. In Georgia, there is a shortage of 193,726 affordable homes. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, stable housing has a direct impact on one’s mental health. Permanent housing is also the first stepping stone to breaking cycles of homelessness, involvement in the criminal justice system, and hospitalizations. Habitat-NCG sees the beauty in communities that have been overlooked and neglected, and we believe that by providing marginalized communities with stable housing, we can help others on their journey to see the beauty in themselves. Habitat-NCG is taking direct action to close the affordable housing gap in North Central Georgia by building homes for marginalized people and empowering them with the tools they need for homeownership. Habitat homes are not a temporary housing solution, they are permanent housing with mortgages that are affordable for the families. Families are not only securing stable housing, they are moving into ownership of an asset that will allow them to find stability both physically and financially. Habitat homeowners are equipped with homeowner classes, providing them with the tools they need to maintain their house and financial stability. Habitat-NCG does not just give a house to someone, instead, we work with the families long-term, empowering them to maintain self-sufficiency. Habitat-NCG Families: The struggle for stable homeownership is often caused by a significant change outside of someone’s control. Read this first hand experience of the Williams Family that was housed in 2019: Lori Ann is a proud mother of two daughters Hannah and Asia. When Asia was born with a rare chromosome deletion that affects her speech and impairs her mental and physical functions Lori had to make a job change and accept a lower paying job in order to be available to address frequent medical emergencies Asia faces. At the time, the family rented a split-level home in Forsyth County. The layout of the home required Lori Ann and Havannah to lift and carry Asia much of the time. There was an obvious need for a wheelchair accessible home so that Asia could become more independent. Habitat-NCG and its sponsors were able to properly design and build a house specifically for this family to move into and own in 2019. Another unfortunately familiar story is that of single parents fleeing domestic abuse. 35.1% of Georgia women and 39.9% of Georgia men experience intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence and/or stalking. The Francis family is one of those families, and Habitat-NCG had the opportunity to provide housing stability during an otherwise chaotic time. In 2013, Rachel* sought the assistance of a local non-profit organization to help her leave a marriage that became unsafe. In 2014, her youngest son was born which left her raising her three children on her own. To add more comfort barriers, the Francis family lives in a two bed one bath apartment that lacks central heating and air making utility bills on the verge of being unaffordable and the home cramped for a family of their size. In 2018 the Francis family was accepted into the Habitat-NCG program and is now on their way to having a more safe, comfortable, and fulfilling life. Habitat-NCG Is For Everyone: Habitat-NCG sees the beauty in the community around us, but also acknowledges and is driven to help those who are marginalized see the beauty in themselves through empowered and affordable homeownership. Affordable and safe housing is a powerful form of equity and inclusivity - allowing a stable platform of housing for those who are in a frequently forgotten community to not only be taken care of, but also feel safe enough to speak up for those around them so that others may be given shelter. Owning a home and having safe, affordable housing is empowering, and Habitat-NCG is proud to give that power to people who need it most. Submitted by: Sabrina Kirkland
The feature below is brought to you by Designed For Joy, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here. To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.  That homeless woman on the corner with a cardboard sign? We see beautiful. That woman who was just released from prison with a broken background? We see beautiful. That single mom with four kids trying to survive poverty? We see beautiful. That woman deciding everyday to stay sober after years of addiction? We see beautiful. That young woman that escaped sex trafficking? We see beautiful. That refugee who just arrived in a new culture and doesn’t speak the language? We see beautiful. This is where we see beautiful. We see it in the eyes of women trying to survive. This is why we started Designed For Joy. CREATING A PATH We are creating a path for these vulnerable women to move forward and gain independence again. Designed For Joy provides second chance employment to women in our community who need a safe and dignified job. We partner with other organizations, such as rehab centers and homeless shelters, that are supporting these women and we provide the vocational component to their life situation. Many of these women cannot get any other job due to factors such as criminal history, mental health, drug rehab programs, or lack of ability to speak English. LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT We aim to lead the conversation of living wage work in our community. We pay a living wage of $15/hr, to provide women with a solid paycheck. During their time with us, the women learn to create beautiful products such as purses, jewelry, and charcuterie boards. Our goal is to build their confidence, provide them with training and skills, refresh their resume, provide a solid letter of reference, and, ultimately, launch them into full time work. EVERYONE IS WELCOME AT OUR TABLE Designed For Joy believes in diversity and inclusion. We welcome all women regardless of race, background, gender identity, or religion. 100% of our clients live below the poverty line. The women in our program represent the diversity in our world. We serve women who are coming out of situations such as sex trafficking, generational poverty, homelessness, rehabilitation, prison, and emergency situations. Our women range in age from 20-70. The majority of our clients are mothers, and most are single mothers. 68% are from under represented minority groups. Over half are homeless or living in a women's shelter. All are invited into a welcoming, safe work environment. We provide meals and a community sharing time to promote mental health, alongside their job training. SAFE PLACE Whether clients are living on the streets or in hostile situations, Designed For Joy offers them a safe working environment and a place for personal growth. Our studio is ideally located directly across the street from a homeless shelter that we partner with, and right beside the bus station, making it easier and safer for our women to get to work. One woman who recently escaped sex trafficking, was able to safely work in our studio while a pimp stood outside looking for her. We offer trauma and conflict management training to all of our clients, staff, and volunteers to promote a safe community. This year, we led a team of 25 volunteers through a “Year of Impact,” a mission targeted to increase awareness of social justice issues, focusing on Race Equality, Poverty, Prison Reentry, and Trafficking. TRIANGLE IMPACT PROJECT Wanting to serve even more women than our regular program could accommodate, we partnered with two area non profit groups, The Scrap Exchange in Durham and The Women's Center of Wake County, to establish a day work program called The Triangle Impact Project. These are stand-alone 3-day workshops that provide women who are experiencing homelessness an opportunity to work with us creating stylishly designed and sustainably handmade tote bags. They work with us during the day, earn a living wage, and receive immediate funds at the end of each work day. These funds are often used for emergency needs. One woman that was sleeping in a tent outside in the snow used her earned wages to sleep in a warm hotel. IMPACT Designed For Joy has hired over 63 women and we just reached the milestone of paying out over $100,000 in living wages!! We have a large volunteer base and we warmly invite you into our studio to see the good work God is doing and meet the women we are serving. Together we can impact the lives of the most vulnerable women in Raleigh. Submitted by: Kristen SydowThe feature below is brought to you by MUST Ministries, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here. To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.  "Hunger is the meanest, ugliest monster you’ve ever seen" Beauty is reflected daily in the faces of thousands of MUST Ministries clients as our programs and services help move them from poverty to stability and self-sufficiency. MUST’s comprehensive services not only address immediate basic needs for food, shelter, healthcare, and clothing but also provide the resources and training needed for employment at a livable wage. For fifty years we have been providing for the basic needs of individuals and families in crisis, by connecting people who have a desire to help with those who need help the most. With facilities in Cobb and Cherokee counties and programs serving 6 additional metro-Atlanta counties, MUST serves around 40,000 individuals each year, over half of them children. Thousands of volunteers support a small staff of about 100, continually helping MUST achieve our mission of “serving our neighbors in need…transforming lives and communities in response to Christ’s call”. Our mission drives the work to create lasting equity of opportunity and better the lives of any individual disadvantaged by poverty. Poverty has many manifestations, but few are sadder than child hunger and malnutrition. A recent report from Feeding America estimates 1 in 6 Georgia children will experience food insecurity in 2021. Food insecurity describes a household’s inability to provide enough food for every person to live an active and healthy life. Our Neighborhood Pantry Program eliminates hunger for at-risk students in local schools, providing food and other necessities, giving them a greater opportunity to grow, learn and thrive. The program currently operates in 34 schools throughout Cobb and Cherokee county, serving a cluster of over 100 schools. We work very closely with school social workers, counselors and staff to identify children and families in crisis. Once a month, including the summer, families can come to their pantry and choose items their families need and enjoy. As an extension of this Program, we have purchased a bus and are currently retrofitting the bus to hit the road in August as a Mobile Pantry. The bus will deliver fresh, nutritious foods in low-income communities and food deserts, where transportation is challenging and families may be unable to come to their pantry. “Thank you for the food boxes - fresh vegetables, eggs and milk. Thank you for all I got from MUST Ministries. You’re great!” - A single mom Many of our clients served through the Neighborhood Pantry Program are living on the margins, often having to choose between buying food or paying a bill. By providing for the basic needs of food and toiletries, our Program improves disparities and encourages equity and inclusion for high-risk families who are experiencing homelessness, households with children abandoned by a parent, special needs families, families with illnesses, families with recent job loss, and other hardships. Providing for their basic human needs validates the beauty and dignity in every man, woman and child we serve, promoting social justice and improving the families’ chances for long-term stability and positive engagement in the community in which they live. “Thank you for all of the people at MUST who help others. There is a lot of hard work to do for this food program. Thank you so much. My husband died last year and it has changed my life.” - A single mom Addressing hunger and poverty provides a foundation for stability and peace in a family, most especially in a child. We often discuss what hunger means for kids from an adult perspective — lower test scores, poorer health, a weakened ability to escape the cycle of poverty. In a short, animated film depicting hunger, No Kid Hungry explored the question of what hunger means to a child. To a young girl, her hunger is not focused on the fact that her grades will suffer, or that she doesn’t have the proper nutrition to grow. To her, hunger is scary and emotional. To her, “hungry is the meanest, ugliest monster you’ve ever seen.” By working with school personnel to identify the children who are struggling due to hunger, our Neighborhood Pantry Program is providing them with nutrition so they can grow, develop and focus on learning instead of thinking about the “monster.” That is beauty personified. “This makes a big difference in their day to day life and the success they have at home, that they know they have food coming from somewhere consistently, especially coming from an organization such as MUST Ministries which is local.” – Neighborhood Pantry volunteer Submitted by: Traci Bensley Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. The feature below is brought to you by Little Lambs Foundation, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here. To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.  Championing ChildrenChildren in our community start school in late summer around the last week of August. For thousands of children in the Cache Valley community that comes with a lot of stress and anxiety, especially after the previous year of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting many aspects of their lives. Many of these families have had a huge reduction in finances. Businesses who have had to shut their doors and employers having to lay off employees, reduce their hours or have had to let employees go, more of these families are struggling and need assistance. With these economic challenges families who may have never needed outside help have to ask Little Lambs for assistance in providing school supplies for their children. In Logan City, Utah we have a 26.8% poverty rate (an increase of 1.4% in just the past 12 months) which is almost double the national poverty rate. Many children go to school with worn out clothing, poor hygiene and no school supplies. Little Lambs provides school supply kits, new pajamas and family hygiene kits every year for the past 7 years for low income families, children in foster care and emergency shelters. Sadly the need grows every year. We would like to expand our ability to reach even more children in desperate need. Due to the large multicultural populations that we serve we have families from all over the world that participate in the distribution. No child is turned away no matter race , ethnic origin or religion . Little Lambs is creating beautiful by giving every child the same opportunities as their peers throughout our many different programs to help children in foster care as well as children living in poverty with basic necessities to grow and thrive. Education forms the foundation of any society. For a child to have the proper tools to learn, grow and succeed is fundamental to a child's development. Little Lambs wants every child to feel equal to their peers. Every child should feel empowered to learn. By having the proper tools to succeed children can feel a sense of belonging feeling confident, prepared and ready to succeed. In the previous years we have had teachers, principals and social workers report that by having children come prepared to school and with proper hygiene it has cut down on bullying in their schools. And that my friend is beauty in its most natural form. Here at Little Lambs we see beauty by helping children rise above their economic challenges and thriving in everything they do. All children deserve a champion on their side and that is true beauty. Be beautiful and support a child in your community today ☺ Submitted by: Ted ChalfantWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. |
See beautiful in yourself.
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