With the Holidays approaching, now is the time of year to look for opportunities to give back. Atlanta is full of non-profits and organizations that are always on the hunt for passionate, dedicated volunteers to help serve the community.
A part of the Midtown Alliance, Midtown Assistance Center is a non-profit who focuses on preventing homelessness by assisting low-income, working Atlantans when things aren’t going their way. Whether it be illness or other unforeseen emergencies, MAC steps in to ensure individuals and families don’t slip below the poverty threshold by providing everything from financial assistance to basic needs like food and clothing. Through their website, midtownassistancectr.org, interested volunteers can fill out a volunteer application specifying the department where they would like placement. Some of the notable volunteer positions include administrative assistance, working to disburse and organize the food pantry, assisting recipients with clothing fittings, and more.
Just down Peachtree St, Aid Atlanta is a non-profit who has served as an AIDS/HIV resource, providing care and education to the community since opening its doors in 1982. Recognizing the impact the epidemic was having on the country, the organization decided to take a stand locally by providing education, health services such as testing facilities, and operating a pharmacy for those without traditional insurance. Aid Atlanta offers an array of volunteer opportunities as well as limited internship positions. Volunteer roles include tax preparation, event preparation, and an information line operator just to name a few. Becoming involved is as easy as going to their website at aidatlanta.org and filling out a Volunteer Interest Form.
If on-site volunteering isn’t feasible due to a busy schedule, donations are a great alternative. Fall is a perfect time to dig deep and get rid of wardrobes of seasons passed. The Midtown and Downtown Atlanta neighborhoods offer multiple donation centers for various charities. South of Midtown, at 1 Capitol, Atlanta 30303, you’ll find Fathers at Work, Inc, a charity that aims to assist in successful co-parenting and ensuring career advancement through different avenues including collecting donated clothing and monetary contributions. Around the corner is Gateway Center, an organization with the goal to help find the homeless permanent housing and assisting them with everyday items until they can. Like Fathers at Work, they also accept clothing and donated supplies as well as financial contributions. There are dozens of other donation centers in the city that can be found with a quick google search.
Volunteering exists to help others but most don’t realize that studies have shown that it helps the volunteer as well. According to the Mayo Clinic, it has been shown to reduce stress and depression, to keep the brain mentally active, and even to extend life. With benefits abound, go out and give back, you never know how much of an impact you may have on someone’s life.
For more information on our two remaining homes at 1065 Midtown, contact us today!
