A Resource for Athens Area Families
   


Eyes Wide Open
The Spirit of Giving
By Frannie Gay
Nov/Dec 2008

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart.” - Helen Keller

Boys and Girls Club Athens
UGA students and Boys and Girls Club members take a break from the water day. PHOTO BY KYLER DENNIS

The holidays always conjure up fond memories of family, friends and wonderful food.  Also intermingling in those memories of karaoke and red velvet cake are trick-or-treating for Unicef, making cards for retirement homes and caroling at the local hospital.  My childhood was filled with opportunities to help others during the holiday season.  It is a tradition I would like to instill in my own children’s lives.

In Athens and the surrounding area, there are many opportunities to give back to others with our time and our resources.  As cliché as it sounds, it is the season of giving.  In helping those in need, we give back to our communities and give to ourselves a feeling that cannot be recreated by the latest gadget or a shopping spree.  Children are open-hearted and kind – the best candidates for volunteering!

Food Bank of Northeast Georgia
Pretty soon, grocery stores will set up their boxes for canned food, and the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia will begin petitioning for donations.  In addition to donating food, why not donate your time?  Volunteers are always needed to help package food or serve meals at local shelters. To find out how you can help the local food bank, visit www.foodbanknega.org, and to volunteer at a local shelter, visit www.athensareahomelessshelter.org.

Angel Food Ministries
Another alternative opportunity to the traditional food bank is Angel Food Ministries. By buying food from first-rate suppliers at discounts, Angel Food Ministries is able to provide families with $65 worth of food for just $30. Angel Food Ministries does not use out-of-date food or inferior products, so the quality is guaranteed. They also offer a different menu for each month.  Families contact a local site and purchase a box containing fresh, frozen and packaged food, and there is no purchase limit on the boxes. There are no applications or qualifications necessary to purchase.  Angel Food Ministries also accepts food stamps in order to better serve those families in need. You can help with the effort by making monetary donations online at www.angelfoodministries.com or visiting a local site. To receive more information on locations, contact the Athens-area headquarters at (706) 549-3818.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Athens
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Athens provide a much-needed service to the youth in our area.  Each year, they host a Christmas party for approximately 400 area children.  They welcome volunteers to help set up, serve at and clean up afterwards.  Donations for gifts are also greatly appreciated.  Each of the 3 locations – Jack R. Wells, Garnett Ridge and Oconee County – benefit from the your help.  For more information, contact Derrick Floyd at (706) 549-7017.

Toys for Tots
Each year, the USMC Toys for Tots program collects new, unwrapped toys for underprivileged children in the area.  For the more athletic, Toys for Tots is sponsoring the 2nd Annual Half Marathon Trail Run on November 30 at Oconee Heritage Park.  The marathon will begin at 11:00 a.m., and there will be a four-hour time limit.  Awards will be given to the top male and female runner.  Participants are required to bring one unwrapped toy to the race.  The registration fee is $25 until November 22.  After November 22, the fee increases to $30 ($1 of each registration fee will be donated to Habitat for Humanity).  For more information contact the Athens coordinator: MSgt Arnold Rendon, USMC, (706) 354-7188, www.toysfortots.org or www.runningintheusa.com/crs.  

For more opportunities in the Athens area: www.charity-charities.org/charities/GA/Athens.html.

Frannie Gay is a freelance writer who lives in Athens and teaches in Rockdale County.


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