Beyond The Shield - September 2023

Greetings Evelyn,

Each September our nation observes Hunger Action Month, which is designed to inspire people to take action and bring awareness to the issue.

Did you know that 1 in 9 Georgians experience food insecurity? This September The Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta invites you to join us in helping ease the burden for some of those individuals. Together we can provide hope to our neighbors in need. From food pantries to hot meals at our Corps Community Centers and the Red Shield Shelter, The Salvation Army helps struggling individuals and families make ends meet. To that end, I hope you will mark your calendar to join us for the 41st annual 11Alive Can-A-Thon on Friday, December 1st.

We are also getting ready for a busy Fall and Christmas season. Our Doing The Most Good event has moved from a luncheon to an evening gala on Oct. 19. Check out the details below for more information and to learn who will be our keynote for this inaugural year.

In the coming months there will be even more opportunities for you to join us in providing Love Beyond the struggles our neighbors in need face every day. Keep reading to learn more about those and more.

Matthew 5:16 - “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

With kind regards,

Christina Faine

Major Gifts Manager

Phone: 404-486-2933

Mark Your Calendar!

Please join us for the inaugural Doing The Most Good Gala on Thursday, Oct. 19! We are thrilled to announce that Comedian, and Atlanta-area native, Jeff Foxworthy will serve as the keynote speaker for this year's fundraiser, taking place in the beautiful Great Hall of Fernbank Museum of Natural History from 7 to 9 p.m.

The evening will begin with a reception for VIP guests including a meet-and-greet with Foxworthy, followed by a three-course seated dinner. During his keynote, Foxworthy will share inspiring words, along with a little humor. Proceeds from the evening will support The Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta’s human services programs including hunger relief, homelessness prevention, financial emergency assistance, and other vital programs.

Sponsorships and individual seats now available.

Join the Women's Auxiliary

Come learn about The Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta's Women’s Auxiliary and how it supports our neighbors in need. To RSVP, please contact dcblaeser@comcast.net by Oct. 9.

Boys & Girls Club Update

Teens Tour UPS Facility

Teens from The Salvation Army Peachcrest Boys & Girls Club had an opportunity to take a tour of a UPS facility, where they saw the day-to-day operation of the largest UPS ground facility in the Southeastern United States. They witnessed the mid-day sort, a process that enables the facility to ship out over nine million packages a day and they visited the dispatching center where 300 different camera angles help keep pace with the overwhelming number of packages they process daily.

In addition to the tour, the teens also heard from a panel of UPS Supervisors from various departments, who spoke to them about their experiences with UPS, and how they achieved their success. They learned that no matter where an employee starts at UPS, they can quickly move up the corporate latter with a positive work ethic and determination. Some of the teens are not sure if college is for them so experiences like this are important to show other career options. After this tour, a few said they could see themselves working for UPS.

Volunteer Red Kettle Bell Ringers Needed

Volunteer spots are already starting to fill up for this year’s Red Kettle campaign. Don’t wait to schedule a time for you, your family, company or friends to ring bells at a location that works best for you. Register to Ring will help you find the perfect time and the perfect place to help The Salvation Army raise critical funds to provide programs and services to our neighbors in need.

How do you sign up? Visit registertoring.com, enter your City/State or zip code and follow the instructions. It only takes a few minutes.

Salvation Army Responds to Hurricane Idalia

Our teams are wholeheartedly dedicated to nourishing, hydrating, and offering emotional and spiritual care to communities throughout South Georgia and Florida that have been profoundly impacted by Hurricane Idalia. With a presence in nearly every ZIP code in America, The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to aid the most vulnerable, especially during times of crisis.

To address Idalia's impact on South Georgia, The Salvation Army of Georgia has deployed eight canteens (mobile feeding units) and highly trained disaster response teams to provide meals in Brooks, Lowndes, and Lanier counties. Three additional canteens are supporting local field units, ensuring assistance at local shelters. Each canteen is capable of serving up to 1,000 meals daily.

The Salvation Army's response also includes Rapid Response Units (RRUs), a critical component of Georgia's emergency disaster response team. RRUs are designed to access areas that larger vehicles cannot, ensuring aid reaches even the most remote locations.

To date, The Salvation Army has provided more than 66,754 meals, 22,262 drinks, and 28,783 snacks to those in need in Georgia and Florida. The Salvation Army has also begun distributing much-needed clean-up kits, hygiene kits, and tarps to those impacted by Hurricane Idalia.

If you’d like to help, please EMAIL Christina Faine to learn more.

Thank You!

Did you miss The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Atlanta's Annual Golf Tournament? No problem! You can still be a beacon of hope by supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs. Gifts will be accepted through the end of September. Click the donate button below.

A BIG thank you goes out to this year’s Title Sponsor Pugmire Ford-Lincoln and Presenting Sponsor Malon D. Mimms! Their support along with all other sponsors and players will help us provide meaningful services and programs to the youth of Atlanta and Decatur that promote the health, physical, social, educational, vocational and character development of boys and girls.