My Birthday Matters turns 5 yrs. old!
Greetings, all.
Simple Needs GA’s My Birthday Matters program is turning five years old! We hope you can drop by our Marietta warehouse on April 13 to don a party hat and celebrate with us! (OK, party hats aren’t mandatory!)
The Open House/MBM Birthday Party is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We’ll be giving tours, chatting with old and new friends and introducing others to our MBM and other programs. Clients will be on hand to share their stories as well. We’ll have some yummy snacks, as well as sandwiches and salads generously donated by Newk’s Eatery, 1975 Cobb Parkway in Kennesaw. Thank you, Newk’s!
If you plan to attend and/or need the address to our warehouse, please email brenda@simpleneedsga.org to help us with our planning. Feel free to bring friends or colleagues who might be interested in learning more about how our work benefits people in need. 
About My Birthday Matters
Five years ago, Simple Needs GA launched a program to bring new presents and basic necessities to disadvantaged children celebrating their birthdays. With the generous support of our donors and volunteers, our My Birthday Matters program has brought smiles to the faces of hundreds of children in need across Cobb County. In 2018 alone, the fast-growing program helped approximately 256 children, up from 217 the year before.
“Today is my daughter’s birthday. She is nine years old and is really excited and extremely happy on her day. As a parent, I am in tears, because this is so important to a child. It’s absolutely great that there are others who care!” — parent of a student at Sawyer Road Elementary.
“I want to thank you and your volunteers so much for such wonderful gifts for my son. He really enjoyed his books! May all of you be blessed for putting such a big smile on his face on his birthday!”
–furniture client after one of her sons received his presents from our My Birthday Matters program.
“You and yours have been so much help. Thank you for the love you have shown my family. You have truly shown me we do matter.” — thank-you note from parent of My Birthday Matters recipient.
“Thanks for the birthday items. The boys are very pleased! [A.] is ready to go to GameStop to use his gift card. [T.] is admiring his new book bag and goodies. [S.] is already snuggled in his throw watching the game. Thanks again for everything, including the furniture!” — thank-you note from parent of My Birthday Matters recipient.
Thank you for your support of people in need!
Next Donation Drive: Sat., March 16!
“You made another child, another human being, very, very happy this morning. This is by far one of her happiest birthdays in a long time.”
—text from a single mom of a girl who received a bike that she rode in Walmart and wanted but couldn’t afford. We also bought her a “My Life” doll and some other things—thanks to you, our donors.
If you’d like to brighten a child’s birthday, just visit the SignUp Genius link for our My Birthday Matters program.
NEXT DONATION DRIVE IS MARCH 16!
Our next monthly Donation Drive is Sat., March 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at our Marietta warehouse. Email brenda@simpleneedsga.orgfor the address or if you have any questions.
If you can’t make it on March 16, we’ll have drives next month on April 6 and April 20. Mark your calendars!
Top needs are:
BRAND NEW: men’s underwear sizes med and large, markers (box of 10-12), kitchen garbage cans, mops and brooms, books for tweens (esp boys), Amazon Fire 7 tablets and cases, light bulbs.
NEW OR GENTLY USED: comforters (all sizes), candles, microwaves, toasters, irons, ironing boards, DVD players, mattress pads (esp full), air mattresses, vacuums.
We are currently collecting lightly used children’s books for Communities in Schools. You can bring to us – or take directly to them.
One of the goals for our furniture clients is for them to not spend too many nights sleeping on the floor. We do not receive enough donations of mattresses and box springs, so we often need to purchase them.We welcome financial contributions toward the purchase of those. DONATE.
Additional donor resources:
SNGA client Amazon Wish List
Our updated list of client needs
List of small household items SNGA clients are offered
BRENDA GIVES ‘STATE OF SNGA’ ADDRESS TO LOCAL OFFICIALS
Special thanks to Powder Springs City Councilman Patrick Bordelon (Mayor Pro Tem) for inviting Brenda to speak about SNGA’s mission as the first speaker in a series of presentations by community-based organizations.
CMA is comprised of all the elected city officials in the county as well as the city managers and clerks. For Brenda’s Feb. 10 presentation, the audience members, just to name a few, included: Powder Springs City Councilman (and SNGA supporter!) Henry Lust; Marietta Ward 7 City Councilman Joseph R. Goldstein; Cobb Travel & Tourism President & CEO Holly Quinlan; Austell Mayor Pro-Tem Ollie B. Clemons, Jr.; and Cobb County District 1 Commissioner Keli Gambrill. 
“I was honored to tell the public servants of our county about our mission at Simple Needs GA,” Brenda said. “Several CMA members are highly committed to combating poverty in Cobb and are doing great work in raising awareness. Councilmen Bordelon and Lust, in particular, have done a lot to support SNGA. They get my vote for sure!” 😀
CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH
One of our dedicated volunteers (with a truck!), Russ Marshall, attends Christ Lutheran Church in Marietta. He suggested SNGA be considered for the church’s Lenten Offering and they said yes! Paula Bode (chair of the committee) took a tour during a Donation Drive and was impressed. “We are so excited to be supporting Simple Needs GA!” she said. On March 10, Brenda spoke to the congregation during their two morning services “The members were all very gracious,” Brenda said. “You can tell they are very involved in community outreach.” A table was set up in the lobby with a monitor which explained SNGA’s program. Members were encouraged to take a cardboard birdhouse and fill them with donations. We’ve already received a few requests from those who want to volunteer; looking forward to our partnership!
HEARTFELT THANKS!
We are very grateful for all of our donors and wish we could call each and every one of them out! Here are a few who have helped out lately. Be sure to “like” our Facebook page so you can read more about each over the next month or so.
The O’Dell and O’Neil law firm (Marietta) and their employees have offered to help out monthly with our My Birthday Matters and other programs by purchasing top needs. The Golden K Kiwanis Club donated $1K this quarter as part of their sustaining sponsorship dollars. Board member Jen Sypeck spoke at the Ruby Cooper Circle at the First United Methodist Church of Marietta; the Circle followed up with a donation and plan to be involved more with us. The Epstein School children volunteered with us, and many families brought donations with them.
THANKS TO AHG TROOP 2012 FROM WOODSTOCK!
Sixteen members of American Heritage Girls Troop 2012 from Woodstock volunteered at SNGA’s warehouse on March 2. The children, ages 6 to 13, and several troop moms pitched in to make fleece blankets, sort and organize stuffed animals, and put together school-supply packs. They have made in-kind donations in the past to SNGA but it was their first time volunteering, said troop coordinator Kathleen Tallent, who volunteered with her daughter Violet.
“Everyone was very impressed with how many different areas and ministries that Simple Needs GA has a hand in, as well as with how organized the warehouse and volunteer dynamics were run,” Kathleen said. “The overall impression was what a great experience and great organization to volunteer with! We hope to be invited back for more service opportunities.”
Founded in 1995, The American Heritage Girls is a Christian-based Scouting-like organization. It has more than 43,000 members. Thanks so much to Troop 2012 for their great work on behalf of people in need!
RECURRING DONATIONS – BE PART OF OUR SIMPLY CARING PROGRAM
If you regularly make donations 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. However, if you plan to routinely donate online to SNGA, you might consider 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
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PEOPLE IN NEED!
Donation drive today (Jan. 19)
“Simple Needs GA is a groundbreaking organization that needs to be emulated nationwide”—Facebook comment from a former client (a mom with three kids) who received help from SNGA in a time of need.
Greetings, all.
Our next monthly Donation Drive is Sat., Jan. 19, 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 Jan. 19, we’ll have drives next month on Feb. 2 and Feb. 16. Mark your calendars!
In addition to winter outerwear for people of all ages and sizes, our clients need:
BRAND NEW: kitchen garbage cans, mops and brooms, boy’s socks for ages 5 and up, books for tweens, small “shopping” bags to put smaller items in for kids who are in pre-K or younger (older kids get backpacks), Amazon Fire 7 tablets (when you see them on sale).
NEW OR GENTLY USED:microwaves, irons, ironing boards, DVD players, baking pans, large serving bowls, pizza cutters, bath rugs, sheets (esp. full and twin), blankets and comforters (all sizes), air mattresses, mattress pads, water pitchers, shower rings.
CURRENT FURNITURE NEEDS (NEW OR GENTLY USED): mattresses and box springs, kitchen tables and chairs, couches, dressers or chests of drawers, TV stands, nightstands, coffee tables, small desks and bookshelves.
If you would like to donate larger (essential) furniture, please email photos to brenda@simpleneedsga.org. If you can deliver, GREAT! If not, include address as well (pick up in Cobb County only).
One of our goals for our furniture clients is for them to not spend too many nights sleeping on the floor. We do not receive enough donations of mattresses and box springs, so we often need to purchase them.We welcome financial contributions toward the purchase of those.
Additional donor resources:
SNGA client Amazon Wish List
Our updated list of client needs
List of small household items SNGA clients are offered
BY THE NUMBERS
Our My Birthday Matters program helped approximately 256 children in 2018, increasing from 217 in 2017. Our Simple Household Needs program brought furniture and household items to 126 clients—a huge increase over the 77 we helped through this program in 2017. It was also a tonof extra work and required a lot more money to buy beds, rent trucks and cover other costs. Thanks so much to all of those who made this possible, including not just our regular volunteers but also local franchises from Two Men And A Truck. (Grateful for the help from Two Men’s Lawenceville/Suwanee location! @TwoMenLawrenceville @tmt_lville)
Our Spirit of Christmas program was an amazing success as well: Volunteers and donors came together to give $100 in requested gifts to 159 children in 61 families, all of whom also received extras like puzzles, board games and hats, gloves and scarves. Parent(s) also received a $25 Walmart card.
Donations drives organized by individuals and groups were part of what made our Spirit of Christmas program so amazingly successful this year.
Lori Hollaran, for example, tapped into the high energy and commitment of her fellow members at Burn Boot Camp East Cobb, 2100 Roswell Rd Suite 1120, to run her second Christmas toy drive in a row for SNGA!
A member of the high-intensity fitness center since November 2017, Lori made a toy box for the East Cobb location and collected nearly 50 presents [generously donated by more than 40 Burn Boot Camp (BBC) East Cobb members. “BBC East Cobb is a facility where members come together all the time to help out our local community,” she explained.
All in all, this year Lori and her friends, family and BBC East Cobb workout partners collected a total of 62 gifts for SNGA’s clients. The donations, which Lori brought to SNGA’s warehouse on Dec. 20, included baby dolls, slime sets, remote control cars, and a Target gift card. The gifts were for children all ages, including infants. “We were blown away last year when Lori and her daughters brought our clients about 50 presents from an SNGA ‘toy party,’ ” Brenda said. “Now she’s done it again. Thanks so much, Lori. You’re amazing!”
Another example is the drive run by Explore Wildwood. Members of the nature-based homeschool enrichment program, comprised mostly of Cobb and Paulding families, bought about 30 items off of our “most wanted” Christmas list.
“Last year, the 10 children in our program did a ‘secret Santa’ gift exchange for each other,” said Jenn Fletcher, Explore Wildwood’s director, founding member and head art teacher. “This year, instead of doing for each other, we decided to all pitch in and do donation gifts for others instead.”
Those donations included dolls and accessories; educational and crafty play items; Hot Wheels sets; books; board games; winter gloves; and an Amazon tablet.
Jenn, who has worked with SNGA’s My Birthday Matters program, said Explore Wildwood’s members liked the idea of supporting the mission of a smaller nonprofit. You can find out more about Explore Wildwood on its Facebook page and website.
We wish we could thank individually all of the amazing, dedicated, generous community volunteers and donors who make these programs possible. We also continue to receive support from local organizations and companies, such as the Marietta office of Progressive Insurance, which sponsored two families and gave each of the kids a lot of presents!
You’re touching the hearts of families in need and putting big smiles on children’s faces! Way to go!
AN INSPIRING ACT FROM AN AMAZING 10-YEAR-OLD
To celebrate her 10th birthday this past November, Addison did something that was as inspiring as it was unusual—rather than focusing on herself, she collected presents for children in need.
“Addison found out about Simple Needs GA through a family friend,” said her mom Paula. “She realized that she had more than enough, and that other children her age may not, so she chose to give items to SNGA’s clients as her birthday wish.”
Addison collected an array of gifts—everything from Kindle Fire tablets, to household items such as pillows—for the school-age clients of our My Birthday Matters program and other children in need referred to us or known to us through our furniture program.
“She asked family and friends to donate a toy or item instead of buying her a gift,” Paula explains. “I have never seen her happier to receive something for her birthday knowing she would be donating it!”
“As a parent, one of the greatest things you can teach your child is to give to others,” she said. “We were very proud of her—especially since it was her own idea. I believe Addison has gotten a good foundation of teaching from her church, school and family about being kind to others, and it’s showing!”
“We couldn’t agree more!” Brenda said. “What I particularly love about Addison’s story is the way it illustrates the joy that we feel whenever we act from a place of generosity and concern for others. Way to go, Addison! You’ve inspired us all!”
RECURRING DONATIONS – BE PART OF OUR SIMPLY CARING PROGRAM
If you regularly make donations 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. However, if you plan to routinely donate online to SNGA, you might consider 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
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PEOPLE IN NEED!
SNGA: An Amazing Year!
Both families were so happy to receive their gifts with everything they wanted in them. I just want to say a huge thank you to you and your volunteers for your kind hearts and dedication. –Cierra Boyce, child advocate for liveSAFE Resources in Marietta
Greetings, all.
As we say goodbye to 2018, we wanted to thank you for all the many ways in which you have helped Simple Needs GA’s clients over the past year.
Literally hundreds of people of all ages from across Cobb County and Metro Atlanta—and even some folks from out of state—have supported our mission in all kinds of ways. They’ve worked in our warehouse; brought furniture, household items and birthday presents to people in need; and even donated their own birthday presents to help children with much harder circumstances than their own.
From the discussions on our Facebook page, to our busy volunteer days and donations drives, to the quiet gifts of time and money, it is clear that SNGA truly has grown into a community-based organization. We are not only connecting people in need with scarce resources. We’re also connecting with each other in meaningful ways. It’s why we’re so looking forward to growing our mission and reaching even more people in the year ahead.
We’re also looking back to 2018 and marveling at our nonprofit’s continued growth.
This past year, our My Birthday Matters program helped approximately 235 children, increasing from 217 in 2017. Our Simple Household Needs program brought furniture and household items to 123 clients—a huge increase over the 77 we helped through this program in 2017. (It was also a tonof extra work and required a lot more money to buy beds, rent trucks and cover other costs. Thanks so much to all of those who made this possible!)
Our Spirit of Christmas program was an amazing success: Volunteers and donors came together to give $100 in requested gifts to 159 children in 61 families, all of whom also received extras like puzzles, board games and hats, gloves and scarves. Parent(s) also received a $25 Walmart card.
None of our clients’ smiles would be possible without our wonderful donors, volunteers and supporters. Even a small donation or a few hours of your time go a long way in relieving some of the stress our families go through at difficult times in their lives.
We know this is true because they tell us so in such heartfelt ways. Take this recent message from one of our furniture clients:
“Thank you so much for helping my family out at a time in need! Simple Needs GA made it possible for my family to feel important in our new home and for the holidays. I can’t express how grateful we are. God bless you. Your program is amazing!”
Have a Happy New Year full of Peace, Love and Joy.
RECURRING DONATIONS – BE PART OF OUR SIMPLY CARING PROGRAM
If you regularly make donations 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” buttonsand then check “make this donation recurring (monthly).”
You can use your credit card or a PayPal account for these donations. However, if you plan to routinely donate online to SNGA, you might consider 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
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PEOPLE IN NEED!
A homegrown effort to help the homeless
The idea that you can’t make a difference is seductive given the need in our community, but a 3-year-old effort called Sam’s Blessing Bag Project shows that it’s possible to make a bigger impact than you might think.
It’s a joint effort by Andrew Hartman, founder and partner at Hartmanlaw, 145 Towne Lake Parkway in Woodstock, and his 10-year-old son, Sam.
Andy, whose boutique law firm specializes in real estate closings, came across the concept of “blessing bags” for the homeless back in 2016. He decided to more publicly launch “Sam’s Blessing Bag Project” at the insistence of some other parents and friends. Part of the goal was to further teach Sam both the value of giving back and the skills necessary for organizing complex projects, Andy says.
“The concept with a ‘Blessing Bag’ is to give people experiencing temporary or long-term homelessness a small kit with beneficial items such as a refillable coffee mug, a snack, some protein, toothpaste, a toothbrush, a pair of socks, a stocking cap and gloves,” Andy explains. “These gifts from a stranger also send a message to those who receive them: Someone cared enough to make this little pack of gifts for me.”
Andy says he knows the homegrown effort can’t solve the global issue of homelessness. “But this is a way to show children how to begin to think in a charitable way, and organize a project,” he said. “That is one of our primary goals. And the fruits of their labor will help someone through a difficult, short period of time.”
In the first couple years working on the project at home as a family, the Hartmans would fill 80 to 150 of the bags to distribute to the homeless. Then in 2018, they took the program to a new level. “Along with our extremely generous friends, we put together more than 600 bags along with over 100 blankets for distribution to people in need across Fulton, Cherokee, Cobb, Bartow, Pickens and Paulding counties,” Andy explains.
This past December, participants at a “Blessing Bag party” at the Woodstock law office put together about 600 bags! “We had snacks, had some prizes for the kids and made it fun,” Andy said.
Simple Needs GA was touched and honored to receive about 90 of the bags for distribution to people who live in the woods in Cobb County, said SNGA Founder Brenda Rhodes. “Give Homeless Hope, a local nonprofit that works closely with this population, is distributing the bags and blankets,” Brenda said. “Thanks so much to the Hartmans and everyone who contributed to this awesome project. It’s amazing to see how Sam’s willingness to give back is blossoming into something that deepens’ others involvement as well. Way to go!”
To learn more about the effort or find out about how you can contribute, just watch this YouTube video or visit this web page.
Next donation drive: Dec. 15!
“I’ve been in tears all day knowing my children will get gifts for Christmas thanks to your organization.”
–Mom whose kids will be getting gifts through our Spirit of Christmas program
“Thank you to the people of Simple Needs GA for helping me furnish my first home with furniture and appliances. You took such a big load off my shoulders! I am so grateful for your help!”
–SNGA furniture client who just moved into a house built by Habitat for Humanity
NEXT DONATION DRIVE IS DEC. 15!
Greetings, all.
We’ve had such a rewarding and busy couple of months, with our open house, Santa visit/pics for clients’ children (see article below), a huge GAgives/Giving Tuesday event, ramping up for our Spirit of Christmas program and more. Did we say Christmas? See our article below on how you can sponsor a child!
Let’s keep the momentum going: Our next monthly Donation Drive is Sat., Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at our Marietta warehouse.
If you can’t make it on Dec. 15, we’ll have drives next month on Jan. 5 and Jan. 19. Mark your calendars!
In addition to winter outerwear for people of all ages and sizes, our clients need:
BRAND NEW: kitchen garbage cans, mops and brooms, boy’s socks for ages 5 and up, books for tweens, small “shopping” bags to put smaller items in for kids who are in pre-K or younger (older kids get backpacks), Amazon Fire 7 tablets (when you see them on sale).
NEW OR GENTLY USED: microwaves, DVD players, baking pans/cookie sheets, large serving bowls, hand towels, bath rugs, sheets (esp. full and twin), blankets and comforters (all sizes), air mattresses, mattress pads (all sizes esp queen), dish sets (no random needed), water pitchers, shower rings.
CURRENT FURNITURE NEEDS (NEW OR GENTLY USED): mattresses and box springs, kitchen tables and chairs, couches, dressers or chests of drawers, TV stands, nightstands, coffee tables, small desks and bookshelves.
If you would like to donate larger (essential) furniture, please email photos to brenda@simpleneedsga.org. If you can deliver, GREAT! If not, include address as well (pick up in Cobb County only).
One of our goals for our furniture clients is for them to not spend too many nights sleeping on the floor. We do not receive enough donations of mattresses and box springs, so we often need to purchase them.We welcome financial contributions toward the purchase of those.
Additional donor resources:
SNGA client Amazon Wish List
Our updated list of client needs
List of small household items SNGA clients are offered
SANTA DAY AT SNGA!
All of us remember going to the mall and having our pictures made with Santa as a kid. This year, we thought it would be great to give our clients’ children the same opportunity. On Dec. 8, local Santa Dean Rowan dropped by our warehouse to pose for pictures with client children of all ages. Everyone had an absolute blast, said SNGA Founder Brenda Rhodes. “Our Santa was amazing, the decorations were beautiful, and the client families really enjoyed themselves doing arts and crafts, eating some food and seeing Jolly St. Nick,” she said. “We definitely want to do this again next year and welcome those who would like to come by and experience this wonderful event!”
Special thanks to Scott Denton, our photographer, as well as all of the volunteers who made Santa day happen. Several of our regular volunteers helped out as well as some of Brenda’s Leadership Cobb C16 classmates. And a shout out to Lisa Majeski for the wonderful and creative decorations!
[PICTURED: SNGA board members Jen Sypeck (with Santa) and Alicia Putnam (elf ears) and Brenda (antlers)]
VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS NEEDED NOW FOR ‘SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS’
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. That’s because we help families that, for any number of reasons, were unable to sign up for other programs earlier. We want them to experience the Spirit of Christmas just the same. In 2017, we supplied Christmas gifts to 158 Cobb County kids from 54 families, and these numbers will likely climb again this year.
Our goal is to provide children with three or four gifts worth $100 per child in total. Each child will also receive a hat, gloves and a scarf. Every family will receive at least one board game suited to the number of children/ages of the kids. And the parent(s) receive a $25 Walmart gift card.
Here’s this year’s SignUp Genius link for needed presents for clients!
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.orgfor more info.
THANKS FOR SUPPORTING US ON GA GIVES/GIVING TUESDAY!
We were blown away on Nov 27 when 64! donors stepped up to support Simple Needs GA during the annual ‘GAgives on #GivingTuesday’ event. Our Facebook fundraiser brought in $7,415 (including $2,500 from the incredible parents of one of our board members) to support people in need in Cobb County. The fundraiser started by our board member Jen reached $460, we raised $495 on the GAgives website, and another $400 came in via PayPal on our website at SimpleNeedsGA.org. That’s a whopping $8,770 to provide our clients with birthday presents, new shoes, full-sized toiletries, cleaning kits and so much more! Thanks again for your amazing generosity!
KID POWER!
We love it when children get involved in SNGA. Recently our friend Becca’s daughters [PICTURED: Ella (left) and Savannah] made a large number of no-sew blankets for children in our My Birthday Matters program. So thoughtful! Thank you so much, girls! These blankets will definitely be greatly appreciated by the kids who will be receiving them!
THANKS TO MELANIE FOR A FANTASTIC OPEN HOUSE!
Founding SNGA board member Melanie Booker did a fantastic job organizing our highly successful open house this past Nov. 17. We can’t say thank-you enough to Melanie for her hard work on the food, decorations and logistics. A big shout out as well goes to all of the volunteers who helped us in so many ways. They whipped the warehouse into shape, gave tours that Saturday, and made our guests feel welcome.
By our count, we had record attendance with at least 75 guests stopping by, plus several clients (five adults and 13 children) who were there to talk about how we made their lives better. We made short work of the sandwiches and salads generously donated by Newk’s Eatery in Kennesaw, along with donuts, coffee and other goodies.
Special thanks to Krista Williams for the awesome design job she did on our new signs, which looked great hanging in different spots at the warehouse, and for the professional printing of the signs by our board member Mike Yalen.
We were also excited that two government officials from Powder Springs—City Councilmen Henry Lust and Patrick Bordelon (Mayor Pro Tem)—were kind enough to stop by the warehouse to learn more about what we do.
“I was very impressed with your group of volunteers and the kindness which they bring to their efforts,” Bordelon said. “It is important to continue to raise awareness of the needs of those members of our community who may have fallen on hard times and can use a little help getting back on their feet.”
Slated to serve as President of the Cobb Municipal Association in 2019, Bordelon even invited SNGA to speak at an upcoming meeting of the group, comprised of all the elected city officials in the county as well as the city managers and clerks. We’re greatly looking forward to it!
Thank you so much to these elected officials for taking an interest in our nonprofit!
HOLIDAY SHOPPING? DON’T FORGET ABOUT AMAZON SMILE!
No doubt about it—ecommerce is bringing about huge changes in the way people shop during the holidays. Fortunately, there’s a great way to support SNGA as you sit on your couch and 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! Just remember to go to the smile.amazon.comportal before you do your shopping!
RECURRING DONATIONS – BE PART OF OUR SIMPLY CARING PROGRAM
If you regularly make donations 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” buttonsand then check “make this donation recurring (monthly).”
You can use your credit card or a PayPal account for these donations. However, if you plan to routinely donate online to SNGA, you might consider 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
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PEOPLE IN NEED!
Our clients need candles! Here’s why.
At Simple Needs GA, our supply of candles to distribute to people who live in the woods is running quite low. If you have extra candles at home or would be willing to buy some for us, our clients would greatly appreciate them! Consider suggesting a candle drive to your place of worship, school, business, book club, Girl or Boy Scout troop. Most any candle will do other than tea lights. The best are pillar and tapered.
Why are candles so important?
People living in the woods have a difficult time keeping raccoons, rats and other critters away from their tents and campsites. Believe it or not, a burning candle or two will keep rodents away. In addition to emitting light, candles are also a surprisingly good heat source. Their warm glow is reassuring–a bit like having a little campfire inside your tent.
But of course, they don’t last all that long. People living in the woods tend to burn through them very quickly.
And the need is great: Hundreds of people shelter in tents in Cobb County. You might not see them because they deliberately pitch camp in wooded places that are out of view from the road. But most likely, when you drive up a ramp to I-75, someone is living close by. The circumstances in which these folks live can vary tremendously: Some work regular jobs and have spent years cultivating clean, safe camps. But a great many others have next to nothing–maybe a tent, sleeping bag and a few other possessions–and face all kinds of uncertainties and challenges.
To donate candles to our Simply Sheltered program, bring them by our space on the third Saturday of the month between 10 and 1. For the address, email me at brenda@simpleneedsga.org.
They also like candle holders of any kind, especially for the tall taper candles, and can make good use of coffee-type cans (clean only) in which to burn candles.
Our Simply Sheltered program also provides tents, sleeping bags, blankets, pillows and other essential items to people living in the woods. In the winter, we collect and distribute underwear, hats, gloves, scarves and other cold-weather items. In fact, we’re running low on blankets right now and could use some more blankets, for sure!
If you’d like to make a financial contribution to help Simply Sheltered, just click this link!
You could also mail a check to:
Simple Needs GA
P.O. Box 670265
Marietta, GA 30066
All your contributions to our 501(c) 3 non-profit organization are tax-deductible. Any support is greatly appreciated and will help us improve the lives of those who are struggling.
Thanks so much for your support of people in need!
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