Hosea Helps, a key social welfare organization in Atlanta, hosted its annual Thanksgiving giveaway, highlighting both the city's hunger crisis and the power of volunteerism. As reported by 11Alive, a long line of people stretched several blocks, reflecting the growing need in the community. Since 1971, the event has not only provided meals but also gathered essential data to assist vulnerable individuals. CEO Awodele Omilami stated, "Right now, we can go into our database and tell you who is living in their car. Who is sleeping in a hotel. Who is in danger of being evicted. Whose lights are turned off."
As grocery costs soared, making even a Thanksgiving meal challenging for many, volunteers rallied to support those in need. They packed and distributed food boxes, helping families during tough times. Volunteer Julie Merritt, who grew up receiving community support, shared with 11Alive, “I grew up with a poor family and we used to get stuff given to us all the time. It's my honor to be out here to see that people are getting stuff they can’t afford." Although the goal was to serve 500 families, the giveaway faced a shortage of turkeys, highlighting the ongoing challenges the organization faces.
Hosea Helps issued an urgent call for donations to meet the growing need this holiday season, with plans to serve over 2,000 people at the upcoming Thanksgiving event. Items needed include turkeys, canned goods, boxed stuffing, potatoes, bottled water, and desserts, as reported by Fox 5 Atlanta. In addition to physical donations, financial contributions were also encouraged to help sustain the organization's support for those in need.
Hosea Helps has made it easy to contribute by offering both a physical drop-off point at 2545 Forest Hills Road in southwest Atlanta and an online donation portal on their website. Hosea Helps expressed gratitude in advance for the support and emphasized the collective effort needed to brighten the season for local families.
