Charitable Connections, Inc.

“Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40. Lazarus was dead. Could the disciples, Mary and Martha trust in the moment and believe that even though Lazarus was dead, that he could rise again?  Do we trust in the moment and believe we will see the glory of God?
 

This past week (May 14 – May 21), The Campaign to G.R.O.W. trusted in the moment and saw the glory of God as volunteers from the following organizations came together to maintain a supportive housing
community, build a community garden that is wheelchair accessible and create long term volunteer support for the Rosslyn supportive housing community:

The Fuller Center for Housing of Greater Atlanta, Inc.– volunteers (completes their mission of repairs to homes for the elderly and disabled)

NAMI Northside Atlanta, Inc.– design of garden, materials to build the garden, volunteers, pastries, drinks, pressure washer (completes their mission to support those suffering from mental health issues)

Project Interconnections, Inc.- materials for pressure washing and staining (completes their mission to provide safe supportive housing for those suffering from mental health issues)

Hands On Atlanta Teamworks - volunteers (completes their mission to provide volunteers to improve the quality of life in Atlanta)

Goodwill North Atlanta- transitional labor to pressure wash (completes their mission to provide training and work opportunities to hard to employ individuals)

EPA Region 4– pressure washer and volunteer (completes their commitment to community service

Residents of Rosslyn Apartments– volunteers for cooking and building the community garden (gives them productive activities and interactions)

Wayfield Foods, Inc. - Hot Dogs, Buns, Condiments

Charitable Connections, Inc. – supplies, project coordination (completes their mission to improve the health and well-being of people and communities while providing leadership development, technical assistance and capacity building services to other non-profit organizations)  

Rosslyn is a permanent supportive housing community owned by Project Interconnections and managed by Community Friendship. It houses up to 56 individuals who have come from homelessness and have mental
health disabilities. Rosslyn Apartments provide a nice single room apartment to each resident as well as supportive services that provide a better quality of life for those individuals suffering from mental health disabilities.

Problem:The need to maintain the deck that connects all 56 units by pressure washing and staining. Immediate solution: Workdays for volunteers in May and June.
Long Term Solution: Develop a maintenance schedule and sustainable volunteer base to complete the schedule

Problem: Many of the residents are on permanent disability but still have a desire to be productive. Immediate Solution: Build a raised bed community garden that is wheelchair accessible.

Long Term Solution: Have residents of Rosslyn attend DeKalb County Extension
Gardening classes and meetings and grow food for their community.

Outcomes:

1.         Creates a community gardening learning center for residents of Rosslyn.
 

2.         Creates a venue for emotional and social healing for residents of Rosslyn through raised bed gardening.

3.         Creates opportunities for the residents of Rosslyn to be productive through raised bed
gardening.

4.         Provides a new on-going volunteering opportunity for Hands On Atlanta and Hands On
Atlanta TeamWorks.

5.         Provides on-going connections and education of the community to reduce the stigma of
mental health.

6.         Provides a source for on-going maintenance support for Rosslyn/Project Interconnections.

Impact:

Improving productivity of those with disabilities.

Reducing the cost of living (food cost) for those
with disabilities.

Reducing the cost of maintaining housing for those
with disabilities.

Creating communities with improved quality of life
for those with disabilities.

DO YOU TRUST IN THE MOMENT AND BELIEVE YOU WILL SEE GOD’S GLORY?