Mission
 The Toco Hills Community
Alliance (THCA) is an ecumenical ministry that seeks to provide assistance
and support for individuals and families living in the northeaster part of
Atlanta who face the possibility of the loss of housing and who are
without food for themselves or their families. The
zip code areas served are 30324, 30329, 30033, 30341, and 30345. The
food pantry is open to anyone in need. The program is based at St.
Bartholomew's. See specifics below.
Toco Hills Community Alliance is run
entirely by volunteers. 99% of revenue goes to assisting individuals
and families in need.
Goals:
- To make available emergency
assistance to individuals and families in need in the northeast
communities of Atlanta.
- To sponsor and promote assistance
programs and services that will result in greater economic stability
and independence for those individuals and families in need.
- To provide opportunities for
individuals and organizations to be of service to their neighbors by
helping individuals and families in need.
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History
The Toco Hills Community Ministry was
founded in 1998 to provide emergency assistance in time of need to
individuals and families in the northeast communities of Atlanta with
the primary goal of preventing homelessness. Since 1998, the ministry
has grown from a loosely organized coalition of a few Christian churches
in the Toco Hills area to its present 8 congregations united and guided
by an elected Board of Directors with representation from each
participating church. The ministry has no paid full- or part-time staff.
All ministry programs are administered and staffed by volunteers from
the participating churches. Volunteers staff the Ministry Office located
at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church four afternoons each week (Mon
thru Thurs from 1-4 pm). During year 2002, over 750 clients were seen
and given assistance by the THCM. Over 97% of revenue
contributions was applied directly to client assistance as the ministry
is run entirely by volunteers with no paid staff employees and the
donation of space and utilities is provided by St. Bartholomew's.
The Toco Hills Community Ministry is
tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and
gifts are fully tax-deductible under federal tax laws.
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Volunteer Needs
and Opportunities:
-
Assist in staffing the Ministry Office
to provide direct client assistance (1 or more afternoons/month). Training
will be provided for this volunteer activity.
- Serve on one of the three Board
committees (Communications, Development/Fund Raising, or Finance). Persons with experience in fund raising for non-profit organizations are
most needed.
- Make a personal financial commitment to
the Toco Hills Community Alliance a 501
(c)(3) corporation. Because the organization is run with
volunteers the administrative costs are minimal with more than 98% of
donations go directly to help our clients.
- Contribute needed non-perishable food
items to the ministry Food Pantry. Items most needed are reported
periodically in the Apostle's Standard and in the ministry's Newsletter.
The following pantry items are currently
needed to help others in the community: Powdered milk, canned meat,
dried beans, canned
vegetables, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, pasta sauces,
juices, macaroni and cheese, rice, cereal, instant oatmeal, hot cereal,
canned soup, canned fish, canned chicken, canned stews, baby food and
dry formula. You may drop it in the barrels around the parish that are
marked "Toco Hill Community Alliance."
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Guidelines for
Providing Assistance
-
Residence
Requirement: Picture identification (e.g., driver's license) is
required and verification of residence in one of the zip codes in our area
30033, 30324, 30329, 30341, or 30345.
- Utilities: Past-due utility
bill (electric, gas, or water only) must be presented. Maximum
amount of $50 will be given.
- MARTA: Two MARTA tokens per
person may be given
- Rent: Written notice of
overdue rent on business letterhead or form must be presented indicating
overdue rent and pending eviction. Maximum amount of $100. will be given.
- Food: Non-perishable food
items are provided as needed in relation to family size. Supermarket
gift cards (value $10 each) provided for special items (baby food,
diapers, etc.)
- Baby Items: Kroger vouchers
for baby food and supplies (and other non-food items) may be
provided. Maximum amount of $10 will be given.
- Gasoline: Vouchers for
gasoline may be provided. Maximum of $10 per car owner will be
given.
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Current Needs
The effects of the growing
economic recession in Atlanta are being felt very graphically in the Toco
Hills Alliance assistance ministry during the past several weeks. At
Thanksgiving time generous donations filled our pantry shelves to
overflowing. However, since then the number of folks coming to us for
financial help and for food has been steadily rising. During the first
week of January over 80 families came to our ministry office and pantry
for help (an increase of more than three-fold over “normal” times). More
than 60 bags of food were distributed to hungry folks during that short
period, and our pantry shelves are being depleted rapidly. We urgently
need your help with non-perishable food donations, especially the items
listed below, to keep our pantry shelves from getting further depleted.
Please help now.
When grocery shopping, add a few extra items to your usual shopping
cart, and bring a bag of food items to the Toco Hills collection barrel.
The Toco Hills Community Alliance thanks you.
Become one of the neighbors
helping neighbors in this community and contact Ken Herrmann at
404.377.8601 or Beverly Clyde at 404.321.2789. Look for more info on the Alliance’s new
website,
www.tocohillsalliance.org
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