Toco Hills Community Alliance

As we begin the summer, you may have some extra time you can help out here at THCA. We can also be part of your "summer learning" as a student. All young people 16 and over are allowed to volunteer, with a waiver signed by a parent. All volunteers must be vaccinated and follow all safety guidelines, including wearing a mask. We are excited to have new volunteers become a part of the Toco Hills Family! If you are looking for a way for your workplace to get involved, we would... love to have them come and do a day of service. Please reach out to see if volunteering here is a good fit for you or if you have any questions. [email protected] See more

We have had interns from Candler School of Theology working with us the last two years. One of the students who just finished a year with us wrote this reflection: https://candler.emory.edu//love-your-neighbor-whoever-they

We continue to have a very high need for large size diapers - sizes 3, 4, 5, and 6. You can drop them off any time between 9 and noon Monday through Friday. Thank you for all your incredible support!

Latest newsletter: Springtime at THCA! https://mailchi.mp//brief-update-from-the-executive-direct

Meet Ms. Eggplant, out newest THCA volunteer! From time to time, we do get oddly shaped produce. This one looked like a person with a large nose, so we put her to work

It has truly been a momentous day at THCA as we launched our first ever Annual Campaign! And check out our refreshed website.

Tonight, we received a huge delivery of about 15,000 pounds of non-perishable food and supplies from the annual Spooky to Be Hungry campaign. HUGE thanks to Oak Grove United Methodist for packing and helping unload two box trucks absolutely full!

From time to time, we receive a little more perishable food than we can distribute before it would go bad. We are happy to be able to share with other ACFB partner agencies like our friends at Antioch AME Food Pantry. Thank you, Mr. Romeo and Ms. Juanita for allowing us to share!

We weathered storm just fine, and are ready to serve our neighbors today!

Another one of our wonderful community partners is Second Helpings Atlanta. Through them, we have been receiving not only our usual deliveries from grocery stores, but also prepared meals from commercial kitchens and produce boxes from farms. We appreciate them so much!

We so love and appreciate being a partner agency of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Because of our relationship with ACFB, we are able purchase food at drastically reduced rates and stretch our dollars to serve more people.

We are extremely blessed to have the support of many faith communities. This week, Decatur City Church collected and dropped off about 300 cases of water. Recently, Atlanta North Seventh Day Adventist dropped off hygiene items. And, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta has been doing a monthly food drive for us. Among others, we've also gotten support from Congregation Bet Haverim, Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta, St. Martin Lutheran Church, Peachtree Baptist, and Hope Express Community Church. Many different faith traditions, but the common value of compassion as neighbors helping neighbors.

We were so fortunate to have Jackie Segui as our Volunteer Coordinator for three and a half months until she returned to be with her family in Puerto Rico. In this blog, she shares her experience working with us at Toco Hills Community Alliance. https://www.jackysegui.com//working-at-a-food-bank-during-

Thank you, wonderful community. We know some of you are working on hygiene drives for us, but we are in desperate need of razors and shaving cream. You can drop off Monday through Friday from 9am to noon.

https://www.cnn.com//food-insecurity-30-million/index.html "Since the start of the pandemic, Feeding America's food banks have seen a 50% increase in the number of people they're serving compared to the same time last year. The food banks estimate that just under 30% of those being served are seeking charitable food assistance for the first time." This certainly squares with our experience here at THCA. The need is great and continues to grow, as we have served over 400 fam...ilies weekly for months. Many indeed are first-timers in seeking assistance and are grateful to receive our boxes that include meat, fresh produce, canned goods, bread, milk, and toilet paper. As one of them remarked recently, "That's a very nice assortment of food. Thank you; our family was running short." To see how you can help our neighbors in need, go to our website https://tocohillsalliance.org/donate

We now have a semi-permanent tent up! This large tent will keep us cooler in the heat and keep us from getting wet either taking in deliveries and donations or distributing groceries when it rains. A couple of pictures from today. The tent, a few pics of deliveries we took in today - in the shade!, and our Board President, Lynn, driving through like those we serve will be. The last pic is a machine that will take all of our volunteers' temperatures and touchlessly dispenses... hand sanitizer. Huge thanks to Kelly Smink of Amusement Masters in Tucker for working with us to make this all happen.

We have several of these pallets next to our dumpster. They are free for anyone who can come and pick them up.

As we continue to serve record numbers of people (over 450 families weekly), we so appreciate our partnerships. Thanks to Atlanta Community Food Bank and Second Helpings Atlanta, we have been part of this Atlanta Community Kitchen Project. Weekly, we are receiving 250 pans that each contain a meal that has 4 servings. The meals are balanced, hearty, and tasty, with an entree, a vegetable, and a side. Our families appreciate and enjoy them very much. https://www.ajc.com//partnership-c/A7OwOcz4YvEtnyVeDB4s8L/