“We lost everything we owned in storage while we were struggling, living in a hotel. Starting over is never easy. With the help of Simple Needs GA, we were able to furnish our apartment. We also received birthday gifts for the kids, which they loved! I’m forever grateful and hope to volunteer with Simple Needs GA in the near future.”
—Note from a mom who received help from our Simple Household Needs and My Birthday Matters programs.
Our next monthly Donation Drive is Sat., Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at our Marietta warehouse. Email brenda@simpleneedsga.org for the address or if you have any questions.
If you can’t make it on Nov. 16, the next donation drives are on Dec. 7 and Dec. 21. Mark your calendars!
Top needs right now are:
BRAND NEW
- Kitchen and bath trash cans
- Walmart gift cards for $25
- Mops and brooms
- Teen/adult coloring books
- Baby wipes
NEW OR GENTLY USED
- Winter outerwear for kids and adults (see article below)
- Microwaves
- TVs (cable-ready and not too large/heavy – tube or flat screen)
- Mattress pads
- Queen and twin comforters
- Vacuums
- DVD players
- Casserole dishes (with lids preferred)
- Floor lamps
- Baby items
Full list:
https://simpleneedsgablog.com/drives/
DONORS BUY EIGHT TWIN MATTRESSES FOR CHILDREN IN NEED
Our Simple Household Needs program supports people in Cobb County who need beds, furniture or household items. Some of these clients were homeless; others live in empty apartments, having fled domestic abusers and left their belongings behind. Demand among these clients is acute—so much so that our furniture program needed a total of eight twin mattresses at the beginning of November alone.
“The problem was, we had none of them left in our storage space,” said Brenda Rhodes, Simple Needs GA Founder and President. “Whenever we can, we supply these kids with cots or air mattresses in the interim, but I feel badly when they have to wait for real beds. Fortunately, our supporters Charles and Joanna Pinkham of Marietta came to the rescue!”
Having seen Brenda’s Facebook post about the need for twin mattresses, the Pinkhams volunteered to purchase all of them at once. “I was thrilled,” Brenda said. “It was an incredible donation, and so meaningful for our clients.”
Joanna says she and Charles, who have donated to SNGA in the past, were moved by Brenda’s post. “We like to support SNGA because they do incredible work to help people in our community,” Joanna said. “To think of so many kids currently without beds, we felt we needed to do something. A good night of sleep is so fundamental to kids being comfortable and feeling at home, performing well in school, and more. We wanted to help in any way we could.”
So far this year, our furniture program has helped a total of 133 families—already more than the 125 it served throughout all of 2018. You can support the program by making a financial donation or donating furniture.
We so appreciate Joanna, Charles and all of the donors and volunteers who make Simple Household Needs possible!
ENERGY CENTER USHERS RESTOCK OUR WAREHOUSE WITH HUGE DRIVE
The ushers at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre (CEPAC) continue to support SNGA in amazing ways. The latest example came on Nov. 4 at CEPAC’s annual volunteer dinner, where these generous folks presented Brenda with a huge haul of household and other items that they had collected for SNGA’s clients.
“The donations, which filled our entire donation room before we sorted them and put them away, included silverware, toasters, pots and pans, towels, comforters, blankets, pillows, coats, hats, gloves, scarves and much more,” Brenda said. “It was too many items to capture in a single photo! We are so grateful to the Cobb Energy Centre ushers. They have helped us again and again going back to at least 2014. These latest donations will make a huge difference for our clients. The CEPAC ushers are a great group of generous people!” Cobb Energy Centre is always looking for volunteers who have a strong interest in serving their community and some extra time. (Those with previous volunteer experience in this field are especially welcome to apply.) For more info, visit CEPAC’s volunteering page.
CALL FOR WINTER WEAR FOR OUR CLIENTS
The temperature is (finally) dropping. We’re collecting coats, gloves, mittens, hats, scarves and other winter wear for our clients, as well as winter supplies like candles and sleeping bags for those who live in the woods. We especially need coats for boys (all sizes).
We take new, clean, gently used items. Consider holding a drive among your friends, family, or neighborhood and church groups. You can collect the items on your own timetable and bring them to one of our drives on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Thanks!
SNGA’S SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS IS GEARING UP!
Our Spirit of Christmas program relies on referrals from school social workers and others to make the holidays brighter for children and families in need. We’re kicking into full gear now with a burst of activity that will last right up until Christmas Eve.
Last year, our volunteers and donors came together to give $100 in requested gifts to 159 children in 61 families, all of whom, in addition, received extras like puzzles, board games and hats, gloves and scarves. Parents also received a $25 Walmart card.
You as the sponsor of the child or family can provide these additional items, or Simple Needs GA will. Or for a $100 donation, you can sponsor a child and we’ll do the shopping.
Click here for a rundown of how you and/or an organization that you’re a part of can help! Email Brenda@simpleneedsga.org or more info.
KEEP AN EYE ON OUR BLOG, WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THE SIGNUP GENIUS LINK TO BUY PRESENTS FOR THESE FAMILIES. WE’LL POST IT BY EARLY DECEMBER!
SNGA SHOUT-OUTS…
Gratitude to Kerbie Marc for marking her birthday by teaming with family and friends to support people in need. Kerbie is a school counselor for Marietta Sixth Grade Academy. On Nov. 2, she and her husband, Judesther, along with their daughter, Sophie, joined some friends to pitch in for several hours at our Marietta warehouse. “The Marcs amplified their impact by sharing our list of needed items with others,” Brenda said. “We were excited that Kerbie and her family and friends wanted to spend her birthday with us. We even put a party hat on her when she arrived so that everyone knew it was her big day! And one of the families with SUVs also pitched in by delivering furniture and other items to our clients, for which we were very grateful.”
Tip of the hat to Jenn Loudermilk and the other From the Top Theatrics volunteers who helped out at SNGA’s Marietta warehouse on Nov. 2. Jenn, who is artistic and music director for the children’s theater company, cofounded From the Top in 2015 along with Jessie Curtis and Cara Jollie. “From the Top is a great organization,” Brenda said. “They always donate a portion of their ticket sales to a local charity, and we had a blast bringing some of our client kids to their production of ‘The Little Mermaid Jr.’ last year.” From the Top Theatrics features casts ages eight to 18. For more info, call 678-961-3867 or visit www.fromthetoptheatrics.org.
M.J. Minicozzi, who just turned seven years old, has donated his birthday presents to our My Birthday Matters program for two years running. “It makes him feel really good,” said his mom Carrie.
“He said he likes knowing that donating his presents will help other kids be able to celebrate theirs.” Not every child stops to think about what the less fortunate experience, but M.J. is learning the value of giving back and helping others in his community, his mom says. He’s also spreading the job: Last year at his birthday party, M.J. inspired another young person, Addison Bendzsuk, to donate to SNGA’s birthday party. “We could not be prouder to watch him do this at such a young age!” his mom said. Great job, M.J.!
HOLIDAY SHOPPING? DON’T FORGET ABOUT AMAZON SMILE!
No doubt about it—ecommerce is changing the way we shop during the holidays. And there’s a great way to support SNGA even as you knock out your Christmas shopping on your iPad: Just go to smile.amazon.com, sign up for the program and choose Simple Needs GA from the list. After that, AmazonSmile will donate to SNGA each time you make a purchase! This can really add up during the holidays. Just remember to go to the smile.amazon.com portal before you do your shopping!
GA GIVES DAY/#GIVING TUESDAY IS DEC. 3
GAgives on #GivingTuesday is coming up on Dec. 3, and Simple Needs GA will be a part of the campaign—an initiative of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits that has raised more than $28 million from 160,000 people since 2012. The idea is to catalyze donations to Georgia nonprofits during peak giving season.
Here’s our profile page, which is already accepting donations:
https://www.gagives.org/organization/Simple-Needs-Ga
If you use our GAgives link to make a donation on Dec. 3, you can boost our odds of winning prizes that could help us reach even more people in need. Stay tuned for more info!
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PEOPLE IN NEED!
Simple Needs GA 