Making a Difference - Reporter Newspapers

Dunwoody’s ‘Everything Will Be OK’ yard-sign fundraiser expands nationwide

by John Ruch | Apr 1, 2020 | Arts & Entertainment, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Making a Difference, Slideshow, Top Stories | 0

The program to support artists through the pandemic shutdowns by selling yard signs of Dunwoody’s iconic “Everything Will Be OK” mural is expanding nationwide and already has sales from as far away as Michigan and Arizona, according to organizers. The effort has raised $40,000 since its March 22 launch, according to Lorna Sherwinter, president of the public-art nonprofit CREATE Dunwoody. Her group is organizing the effort along with the Spruill Center for the Arts and Custom Signs Today. “Create Dunwoody is excited to grow this campaign nationwide and continue to care for the artists who so enrich our lives...

Atlanta mayor, United Way launch ‘#ATLSTRONG Fund’ donation drive for pandemic-affected residents, businesses

by John Ruch | Mar 31, 2020 | Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Making a Difference, Top Stories | 0

An “#ATLSTRONG Fund” donation campaign to support Atlanta residents and businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic has been launched by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the United Way of Greater Atlanta. “Families across Atlanta are facing uncertainty and seemingly insurmountable challenges due to this pandemic,” said Bottoms in a press release. “As a community, we must provide relief to those most in need. Thank you to the United Way of Greater Atlanta for their assistance in meeting these critical needs.” The fund’s priorities are listed generally as: Food security for Atlanta’s children and seniors; Support for individuals experiencing homelessness;...

Jewish HomeLife copes with more COVID-19 cases in senior residences

by John Ruch | Mar 31, 2020 | Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Making a Difference, Top Stories | 0

Jewish HomeLife is coping with more cases of COVID-19 in two of its senior residences, including six staff members at Dunwoody’s Berman Commons and an already isolated resident at Buckhead’s Jewish Tower. The Buckhead-based nonprofit is also seeking donations for more protective supplies for staff and residents. Spokesperson Shari Bayer said that Jewish HomeLife is likely not the only senior living operator in the area that faces COVID-19 cases, but is being especially transparent about it by immediately issuing letters to residents and families that circulate widely. The nonprofit is taking various precautions, including testing of staff and residents...

Fundraiser buys meals to help restaurants help hospitals, first responders and grocery workers

by John Ruch | Mar 27, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Coronavirus, Making a Difference, Sandy Springs Reporter, Slideshow, Top Stories | 0

A new Brookhaven-based fundraiser aims to help local restaurants help healthcare workers, first responders and grocery workers. The plan: buy meals from eateries struggling from pandemic shutdowns, then deliver the food to those who are out working in it. Dubbed “We Got Your Six,” the effort is organized by the Collette McDonald & Associates real estate agency. Since it started on March 18, it has delivered meals to Emory Saint Joseph’s and Northside hospitals in Sandy Springs, serving food from the Brookhaven restaurants There and Bua Thai + Sushi and its Midtown sister restaurant Mali. “It’s a hand up,...

Dunwoody’s ‘Everything Will Be OK’ yard sign effort raises $30K; expands to other cities

by John Ruch | Mar 26, 2020 | Arts & Entertainment, Brookhaven Reporter, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Making a Difference, Sandy Springs Reporter, Top Stories | 0

A program to support artists through the pandemic by selling yard signs of Dunwoody’s iconic “Everything Will Be OK” mural has raised more than $30,000 and expanded to parts of Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville and Sandy Springs. “Amazing,” said Alan Mothner, CEO of the Spruill Center for the Arts, which organized the effort with CREATE Dunwoody and Custom Signs Today. “[The] outpouring of support is really beautiful.” Their effort is selling the signs for $20, with $15 going to the assistance fund, and purely monetary donations are accepted as well. Mothner said 1,600 signs have been sold so far. The...

Free legal advice on employment, evictions available during pandemic

by John Ruch | Mar 26, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Making a Difference, Sandy Springs Reporter | 0

The economic fallout of business shutdowns for the coronavirus pandemic have left many workers with legal questions about leases, unemployment benefits and other issues. Some free advice on navigating these issues is now available. The Atlanta Legal Aid Society offers free legal representing in civil cases to low-income people around metro Atlanta. The organization has closed its physical offices at least through March 30, but continues to work remotely and take new clients. Atlanta Legal Aid has posted a guide to Georgia eviction law online here. It also has a general roundup of COVID-19 information and assistance online here....

Community collective mobilizes to make protective masks for healthcare works in pandemic shortage

by Reporter Newspapers | Mar 26, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Making a Difference, Sandy Springs Reporter, Slideshow, Top Stories | 0

Atlanta, like the rest of the country, is facing a drastic shortage of masks and other personal protective equipment for healthcare personnel fighting COVID-19. To address the local shortfall, a community collective – Sewing Masks for Atlanta Hospitals – formed late last week. “We are a group of five admins and two businesses who wanted to use our resources and contacts in the Atlanta healthcare industry to mobilize making masks as a stop-gap for the local healthcare workers on the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak,” said administrator Kirsten Hawkins. They are joined by more than 500 volunteer professionals...

Food for families with kids available in Atlanta Classical Academy/YMCA partnership

by John Ruch | Mar 25, 2020 | Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Making a Difference | 0

As part of hunger relief programs during the coronavirus pandemic, free meals for families with children 18 and younger are available at Buckhead’s Atlanta Classical Academy in partnership with the Carl E. Sanders Family YMCA. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Family Hunger Program is distributing drive-thru/pick-up snacks and dinners Monday through Friday, 2-4 p.m., at the school at 3260 Northside Drive NW. Children will only be asked their name, age and school to comply with USDA funding guidelines, according to a spokesperson. The school is also the location of another food distribution program specifically for families in the YMCA’s...

Community Assistance Center runs low on food staples, seeks volunteers and donations

by John Ruch | Mar 22, 2020 | Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Making a Difference, Sandy Springs Reporter | 0

The Community Assistance Center is running low on grocery staples in its food pantry and is seeking younger volunteers to replace those at risk of the COVID-19 pandemic. The nonprofit, which assists people in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs who face hunger and homelessness, also is seeking financial donations as it faces a rush of rent assistance requests from people out of work. For more information see ourcac.org. Food pantry The Food Pantry’s most-needed items for food donations include: Canned meats, including tuna, chicken and Spam Cereal Dry beans Dry pasta Spaghetti sauce Rice Grocery store plastic bags The pantry...

Goodwill to close stores and centers; will still accept donations

by John Ruch | Mar 22, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Making a Difference, Sandy Springs Reporter | 0

Goodwill of North Georgia will close all of its stores, donation centers and career centers to the public for two weeks, starting March 23, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The nonprofit will continue to accept donated items at its store donor doors on Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Goodwill will continue to offer online shopping on its website and is accepting money donations here. Job-seekers can use its online career services program at...

Iconic Dunwoody mural becomes yard signs to support artists during pandemic

by John Ruch | Mar 22, 2020 | Arts & Entertainment, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Making a Difference, Slideshow, Top Stories | 0

Dunwoody’s iconic “Everything Will Be OK” mural is now available in the form of yard signs sold as a fundraiser to help artists and art teachers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The Spruill Center for the Arts, in partnership with the public-art nonprofit CREATE Dunwoody and Custom Signs Today, is selling the signs for $20, with $15 going to the assistance fund. “After receiving nearly a hundred phone calls, emails and social media requests for home versions of the message, we decided to do something to satisfy the request and help artists in need at the same time,” said...

Worth Knowing: In pandemic nightmare, acts of kindness abound

by Carol Niemi | Mar 21, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Buckhead Reporter, Commentary, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Making a Difference, Sandy Springs Reporter | 0

Almost overnight, our world has changed. But in the midst of our dystopian nightmare, examples of compassion are all around us – proof that that caring for one another is in our American DNA. Here are but a few examples. In Dunwoody, a group of moms, one of whom is Mayor Lynn Deutsch, have formed “Lunch-4-Our Bunch” to feed Dunwoody school children who might go hungry while not in school. Every Tuesday through the end of the month, the moms come together to make 1,000 bag lunches for distribution on Wednesdays outside at Malachi’s Storehouse at St. Patrick’s Episcopal...