Community Ministries Newsletter: October
Wednesday, October 9th, 2024
We are excited to bring you the latest edition of the Community Ministries newsletter! Community Ministries is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta dedicated to serving those experiencing homelessness and those in transition in Midtown Atlanta and beyond. Every week, Community Ministries can expect to serve over 600 clients through social services, feeding ministries, the Clothing Corner, the Hospitality Closet, and the Mailroom.
Continue reading for a Smith Building Update, client and volunteer spotlights, an update on our needed donations, a chance to learn more about our Director of Community Ministries, and celebration photos from our grand dedication!
Smith Building Update
We are glad to be living into the newly renovated Smith Building! With this move, we have been able to continuously expand our services to reach more clients and meet more needs.
Our shower services are already being offered to clients! We currently have men showers on Wednesdays and Sundays and women showers on Mondays. With this service, they get 15 minutes in a private bathroom with hot, running water. Before they shower, they get to go into the clothing closet to get three new items. They also receive a hygiene kit that consists of toiletries and a washcloth that they get to keep. We have three regular stalls and one handicap stall!
On our second floor, we have begun utilizing the partner cubicles and the brand new computer lab! In the cubicles, clients can meet with partners such as Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency, the Veterans Affairs Office, and Community Friendship. In our fully functional computer lab, clients will be able to use a computer for their personal needs. We are also excited to be offering classes in partnership with Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency starting at the end of October that will focus on computer literacy and career readiness.
Smith Building Rededication
Thank you to all of those who celebrated the Smith Building rededication with us on Sunday, September 15th! We had a wonderful time guiding people through the building and showing all the new services that Community Ministries provides.
A special thank you to all the individuals who helped make the rededication possible, especially the volunteers who helped with the Smith Building cleanup day on the September 13th in preparation for the rededication!
Venable Food Market Opening & Food Drive
Thank you to everyone who has donated to the food drive! Thanks to your generous donations we have been able to officially open the Venable Food Market. The Venable Food Market is officially open every Tuesday from 1pm to 6pm by appointment only for those in need of free groceries . Since opening the Venable Food Market on the 24th of September we have already served over a dozen clients!
Community Ministries is actively conducting a food drive to restock the shelves of the Venable Food Market. Your contribution to this effort will make a significant impact on the lives of those in need right here in Midtown.
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Canned Fruit Cocktail
Canned Pears
Canned Peaches
Canned Mixed Vegetables
Canned Corn
Canned Sweat Peas
Canned Carrots
Dried Beans
Canned Beans
Canned Soups
Canned Pasta
Canned Tuna
Canned Chicken
Canned Ham
Cooking Oil (Small Containers)
Dried Pasta
Box Macaroni & Cheese
Tomato Sauce
Jelly
Oatmeal
3lb Bag of Rice
Instant or Quick Grits
Donations Can Be Dropped off:
Sunday's between 8:00am & 1:00pm.
Monday through Thursday 9:00am to 3:00pm
In the designated bins located in the Smith building lobby.
Sizes:
Standard sized containers are best.
Expiration Date:
For safety reasons, goods past the expiration date cannot be distributed.
Women’s Transformation Center & Donation Needs
The construction of the WTC is now complete, and preparations for our winter opening are in full swing. To ensure a welcoming and comfortable environment for our future residents, we are stocking essential items specifically tailored to meet their needs. Our goal is to provide everything necessary to create a restful space that supports their journey towards self-sufficiency.
We invite you to support this initiative by considering a donation from our Amazon wishlist. Your generous contributions will play a vital role in making the WTC a hospitable home for the women we serve. Thank you in advance for your support!
Community Ministries Staff Introductions: Tricia Passuth
What is your role with Community Ministries?
I am the Director of Community Ministries. I oversee all direct services with clients, and I oversee our social workers and the social work interns.
How long have you been with CM?
I have been here 9 years since September.
What is your favorite part of working for CM?
There’s so much. One is that we are able to become somebody’s constant. They know we are always going to be here and accept them no matter what. People come in here and trust us at their most vulnerable, and to see the resiliency of the people we work with amazes me.
What drew you in to work with CM?
Throughout my career, I always worked with people who have experienced homelessness to some degree: an advocate for children in foster care, working with homeless teens, some invisible population of people who are often ignored and who are misunderstood. When I moved here from New Jersey, it was a perfect fit of all my skills and passion.
What is your favorite thing to help clients with?
One of my very favorite memories is that we were able to reunite this mother with her children about 3 years ago. She had been on a missing persons list since 2014. She was not using her real name, but one day she had come in with paperwork from the hospital with her real name on it. So, I looked her up and saw her on the missing persons list and found a Facebook profile set up for her. Her kids had not seen her since they were 4 and 6, but they were able to come see her and talk to her. While she is still experiencing homelessness, her aunt will call to check on her and her family in Michigan will send her Christmas gifts.
We are so thankful and blessed to have Tricia here with us at Community Ministries! Thank you, Tricia, for your hard work and dedication to our clients. We could not do it without you!
Volunteer position spotlight: Mailroom
We are thrilled to be able to offer mail services to over 1600 registered clients. Our amazing Mail Associate volunteers are responsible for organizing, sorting, and delivering client's mail. They are also responsible for filing client mail agreements and assisting in the update of the active client mail list, and sorting Return to Sender mail.
We are in need of volunteers to help us lead this ministry!
Our main need is Sunday mornings from 8:00am-10:00am. If that is not possible, we also run on Monday-Thursday from 1:00pm-3:00pm. This volunteer position is suitable for individuals of all backgrounds and experience levels. However, it is not ideally suited for young children.
“I personally love the connections. I enjoy all of the different people I get to meet: our variety of clients and my fellow volunteers! I really love volunteering at the church.”
Client Spotlight: Gregory
How long have you been coming to CM?
Since September or October of last year.
What services do you use the most?
I use the mail service, sandwich bags, and the showers. Yall are one of the only places to clean up over on this side of town.
Which service helps you the most/ do you enjoy the most?
I like the Sunday Breakfast the most out of everything because I get to sit and talk with other homeless people around. When you get to be a certain age, it gets to where things don’t really bother you anymore. You can just be calm, come in and get what you need, and not get in the way.
Thank you, Gregory, for always being a calm presence! We always enjoy being able to serve our clients, and we can only do that because of your donations.
Donations Needed
We at Community Ministries are deeply appreciative of every donation we receive! It is because of the generosity of our donors and volunteers that we can fulfill our mission.
Individuals can donate by either delivering items physically to the church or purchasing them through our Amazon Wishlist. Physical donations can be dropped off at the church’s rear security entrance off of Art Center Way, Monday through Thursday between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm, or on Sundays between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm.
Here is a list of our current needs:
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Body soap, body wash
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Dental Floss
Shampoo/Conditioner
Deodorant
Razors
Lotion
Chapstick
Wet wipes (for hands, body, or baby wipes)
Nail clippers/ Files
Hair combs
Feminine Hygiene Products
Hand Sanitizer
Blankets
Backpacks, Sling bags or Luggage
Reusable/strong shopping bags
Hand warmers
Sleeping Bags
Washcloths
Mesh Laundry Bags
Laundry detergent pods (pods only, please, no liquid detergent)
Ziplock bags – 1-gallon, 1-quart and sandwich size
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All items donated to the the clothing corner should be in new or good condition. Used but not damaged clothing is accepted.
Men's pants (especially sweatpants, jeans, khakis, dark work pants)
Men's T-shirts, Sweatshirts, and Collared shirts
Women's Pants and Tops, Sweaters and Sweatshirts
Shoes, (especially men's and women's sneakers, shower slides, work boots)
Men's and Women's New Underwear and Undershirts
Belts & Warm Scarves
Warm Hats & Gloves
Plastic drawstring bags
Virtual Fall & Winter ‘Community of Service’ Sessions
Community of Service trainings are back! Join Community Ministries for a virtual fellowship event where we will explore the meaning of volunteering, discover the various volunteer opportunities available with Community Ministries, and learn more about the individuals we serve. This will be an interactive, engaging, and informative time led by the Director of Community Ministries Operations, Jacob Ivey.
This event is open to anyone interested and is suitable for all ages and levels of experience. Current and past volunteers are highly encouraged to attend and learn more about Community Ministries and what it means to be in fellowship with one another and those we serve.
Sessions will be held virtually via Zoom on October 21st and November 15th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. To register click on the button below!