“My passions lie with helping others.”
– Simple Needs GA board member Donna Strauss, who passed away suddenly on July 23
DONATION DRIVE ON SAT., AUG. 15!
We want to say thank you to those who have supported us with in-kind donations since we opened back up a few months ago. We’ve been able to help many families and individuals get established in their new homes, as well as provide birthday gifts to kids who desperately needed something good in their lives.
Our next Donation Drive is Sat., Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at our Marietta warehouse. Email brenda@simpleneedsga.org for the address or with questions.
If you can’t make it on Aug. 15, the next donation drives are Sept. 5 and Sept. 19. Mark your calendars!
NOTE: Due to COVID-19, donors are not currently coming inside our warehouse so please let us know when you arrive. Since we “quarantine” all donated items in the warehouse for a week before giving them to clients, we have limited space. Please just bring what we need (needed items list and My Birthday Matters SignUp Genius).
By appointment only, we are picking up gently used, stain-free mattresses and box springs from outside donor’s homes. If you have essential furniture that you can deliver and unload yourself, you can take it to our Marietta storage location, 2.2 miles away from the warehouse. Please email brenda@simpleneedsga.org and we will make arrangements.
Some of our top needs right now are:
- Kitchen trash cans–can be new or gently used/clean
- New character backpacks–specifically Batman, Cars/Hot Wheels, dinosaurs, Fortnite, Spiderman, Superman, trains and trucks, sports, JoJo Siwa, Barbie, Dora the Explorer, Shopkins, unicorns, mermaids, Moana, Minions, Spongebob.
- New mops and brooms
New or gently used:
- Bunk beds
- DVD players ($25 at Walmart)
- Blankets – all sizes
- Floor lamps (inexpensive at Walmart and Target)
- Table lamps
- Casserole dishes (esp larger, preferably with lids)
- Baking dishes (such as for lasagna)
- Adult hangers (no kid needed) – preferably bagged in qty of 20
- Air mattresses preferably those with built-in pumps (or an external pump)
- DVDs for kids and adults
Full list:
https://simpleneedsgablog.com/drives/
KEEPING PEOPLE IN NEED ‘SIMPLY SAFE’
Did you know that Simple Needs GA is now collecting and distributing donated masks for people in need in Cobb County? We’re calling the program Simply Safe, and we’ve already received hundreds of masks [PICTURED] from donors, including Mask Makers 2020 West Cobb.
The effort comes as our clients are being disproportionately affected by the pandemic, said Brenda Rhodes, SNGA Founder and President. “Many of our clients are struggling due to job losses and economic damage caused by Covid-19,” she said. “It can be hard for them to afford some supplies that the rest of us use to stay safe and avoid spreading the virus.”
In addition to supplying these donations to clients, SNGA is working with local school systems and shelters to identify potential recipients.
Those interested in donating brand-new, high-quality masks or other needed items can go to our SignUp Genius or email brenda@simpleneedsga.org. “Organizing a drive can be a great way to maximize your impact,” Brenda said, “so families, churches, businesses, scouting troops, clubs, neighborhood associations and other groups could keep that in mind.”
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: ELAINE BROWN
When Elaine Brown retired in 2015, she wanted to make a difference in her community by volunteering. Since then, Elaine has touched the lives of hundreds of children in need from across Cobb County. To learn more about the amazing contributions Elaine continues to make to our My Birthday Matters program, check out our new volunteer spotlight focused on Elaine’s story. Says Brenda: “Without Elaine, My Birthday Matters could never have grown as quickly as it has. Last year, we brought presents and other useful items to more than 260 children.”
CHEERS TO AE ALLSTARS!
Athletes with Atlanta Elite Allstars Cheerleading & Tumbling, 1440 Lucile Ave. in Marietta, packed and donated 44 school-supply kits for SNGA clients. A representative from the gym dropped off the kits earlier this month, along with 14 themed backpacks, 89 spiral notebooks and a box of miscellaneous supplies. The kits included items such aspencils, pens, colored pencils, markers, crayons, glue sticks and playing cards.
“Serving together is great for team-building, and I love the idea of being able to support the community close to the gym,” said Antonio Colbert, Atlanta Elite gym owner. “Collecting school supplies was a great opportunity because this was something the athletes could relate to. Being able to help those who are less fortunate teaches the athletes that giving connects us to others, creates stronger communities and helps to build a kinder society for everyone.”
QUICK SHOUT OUTS!
Many thanks to the staff and volunteers at Due West United Methodist Church for helping us with deliveries, and to Mt. Paran Church North and First United Methodist Church of Marietta for their donations of filled backpacks!
ON THE PASSING OF SNGA BOARD MEMBER DONNA STRAUSS…
Our longtime board member Donna Strauss, 56, died suddenly on July 27. The licensed CPA, who had volunteered with Simple Needs GA since November 2012, was a huge help to our organization in areas such as payroll accounting and other financial matters, but also volunteered at the Marietta warehouse over the years.
A native of Long Island, N.Y., Donna served in the Army Medical Corps for four years. She moved to Georgia in 1989, where she earned a business degree from Kennesaw State University and studied accounting at Brenau University. Donna founded Marietta-based EZ Accounting & Tax Services LLC, which served local businesses and individuals. She volunteered with Give Homeless Hope and was an active member of Living Word On The Move Church in McDonough for more than 10 years. “Donna was such a sweet and generous person, and she was a good friend,” Brenda said. “She will be greatly missed.”
MY BIRTHDAY MATTERS SIGNUP GENIUS IS UP TO DATE
Our My Birthday Matters program brings brand-new toys, school supplies, a no-sew blanket, a stuffed animal, reading books, coloring books, underwear, socks, and other useful items to homeless schoolchildren in Cobb County who are celebrating their birthdays.
Did you know that you can support this program very easily by simply going to our SignUp Genius link and donating items off of the wish lists of children in need? In some cases, it’s even possible to order items via Amazon and have them shipped to us (please email Brenda for our shipping address). Thanks to your generous support, SNGA brought birthday presents and other useful items to more than 260 homeless children last year!
ADDITIONAL WAYS TO HELP SNGA:
HOLD A FACEBOOK BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER
“I want to thank Simple Needs GA for all you did for my son and me. You helped us with beds so we didn’t have to sleep on the floor, as well as providing a wonderful birthday package for my son’s seventh birthday! That was so awesome of you guys. I appreciate it wholeheartedly. You’re amazing!”
Receiving notes like this is part of what keeps our donors and volunteers so motivated to give back to our community. A great way you can help support our programs is by holding a Facebook birthday or other fundraiser.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH RECURRING DONATIONS
If you donate to Simple Needs GA (or would like to!), we’d love it if you would consider making your donation automatically recur each month. Just go to SimpleNeedsGA.org, click one of the “donate” buttons and then check “make this donation recurring (monthly).” You can use your credit card or a PayPal account for these donations. Another option: signing up for a PayPal Giving Fund account. PayPal Giving Fund charges no fees to enrolled charities, so all of your donations will go to SNGA!
Of course, you could also just mail a monthly check to:
Simple Needs GA
P.O. Box 670265
Marietta, GA 30066
AUTO-DONATE VIA AMAZON SMILE!
Amazon Smile allows you to support SNGA even as you shop on your iPad or phone: 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 over time. Just remember to go to the smile.amazon.com portal before you do your shopping!
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PEOPLE IN NEED!
A native of Long Island, N.Y., Donna served in the Army Medical Corps for four years. She moved to Georgia in 1989, where she earned a business degree from Kennesaw State University and studied accounting at Brenau University. Donna founded Marietta-based EZ Accounting & Tax Services LLC, which served local businesses and individuals. She volunteered with Give Homeless Hope and was an active member of Living Word On The Move Church in McDonough for more than 10 years. “Donna was such a sweet and generous person, and she was a good friend,” Brenda said. “She will be greatly missed.”
MY BIRTHDAY MATTERS SIGNUP GENIUS IS UP TO DATE
Our My Birthday Matters program brings brand-new toys, school supplies, a no-sew blanket, a stuffed animal, reading books, coloring books, underwear, socks, and other useful items to homeless schoolchildren in Cobb County who are celebrating their birthdays.
Did you know that you can support this program very easily by simply going to our SignUp Genius link and donating items off of the wish lists of children in need? In some cases, it’s even possible to order items via Amazon and have them shipped to us (please email Brenda for our shipping address). Thanks to your generous support, SNGA brought birthday presents and other useful items to more than 260 homeless children last year!
ADDITIONAL WAYS TO HELP SNGA:
HOLD A FACEBOOK BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER
“I want to thank Simple Needs GA for all you did for my son and me. You helped us with beds so we didn’t have to sleep on the floor, as well as providing a wonderful birthday package for my son’s seventh birthday! That was so awesome of you guys. I appreciate it wholeheartedly. You’re amazing!”
Receiving notes like this is part of what keeps our donors and volunteers so motivated to give back to our community. A great way you can help support our programs is by holding a Facebook birthday or other fundraiser.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH RECURRING DONATIONS
If you donate to Simple Needs GA (or would like to!), we’d love it if you would consider making your donation automatically recur each month. Just go to SimpleNeedsGA.org, click one of the “donate” buttons and then check “make this donation recurring (monthly).” You can use your credit card or a PayPal account for these donations. Another option: signing up for a PayPal Giving Fund account. PayPal Giving Fund charges no fees to enrolled charities, so all of your donations will go to SNGA!
Of course, you could also just mail a monthly check to:
Simple Needs GA
P.O. Box 670265
Marietta, GA 30066
AUTO-DONATE VIA AMAZON SMILE!
Amazon Smile allows you to support SNGA even as you shop on your iPad or phone: 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 over time. Just remember to go to the smile.amazon.com portal before you do your shopping!
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PEOPLE IN NEED!
Simple Needs GA 