Acts of Kindness: Stories of the community helping one another during the pandemic
May 16—In times like these, the good in people shines.
Since March 2020, the MDJ has been reporting on acts of kindness, goodwill and generosity during the coronavirus pandemic.
If you know of an instance of benevolence — on any scale — and are willing to share with MDJ readers, tell us your story.
Send an email to mdjnews@mdjonline.com with the subject line: Act of Kindness.
Monday, May 16
You won't find palm trees or a beach at the Marietta Country Club, but if you were present on April 23, you would have sworn you were at the beach.
The Annual Night Golf Tournament fundraiser, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Marietta, had players decked out in their beachiest attire and saw golf carts decorated with palms trees, pink flamingos and anything else beach-themed the participants brought to compete in the Golf Cart Decorating Contest.
After a spirited dinner and auction, with nightfall approaching, the players hit the links in their lighted golf carts to swing away at glow-in-the-dark golf balls aimed for the lighted holes and flags. Several stops along the way involved Giant Jenga and Cornhole contests. All in the spirit of fun with a purpose. All monies raised benefit the Kiwanis Club of Marietta's CSI: Marietta. An initialism for Children's Success Initiative, this program focuses on helping youth in Marietta improve their lives and encourages them on their path to becoming good citizens.
For information about the Kiwanis Club of Marietta, visit www.mariettakiwanis.org or email Executive Director Pat Huey at PatHuey@comcast.net.
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The residents at the Center for Children and Young Adults are now enjoying some beautiful new living room furniture thanks to the Rotary Club of Marietta Metro.
The area boasts new sofas, ottomans and lamps which are attractive and make the area inviting and comfortable.
"It is so important and valuable for these young people to feel they are in a safe and homelike setting. The new furniture helps accomplish this and we are grateful to the Rotary Club for the furnishings as well as their support throughout the year in other ways," said Jennifer LaBrecque, Grants and Facilities Director for the Center.
The mission of the Center for Children & Young Adults (CCYA) is to provide safe and suitable housing, youth development activities and comprehensive supportive housing services for at-risk homeless youth who have been abandoned, abused, neglected and/or sexually exploited.
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Friday, May 13
Cobb Collaborative, Sweetwater Mission, the GA Lions Lighthouse along with other many other organizations that support our brave veterans spent May 13 at the We CARE Veterans Resource Fair at the Cobb Civic Center. There were free health screenings, haircuts, hot prepared food, take home groceries, companies wanting to hire our heroes as well as many, many other services available to our veterans at this event. This is a wonderful occasion, and we appreciate United Military Care for hosting this huge show.
-Barry Krebs
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Monday, May 9
We appreciate the dedicated volunteers and guests who braved the rain to participate in the Sweetwater Meals On A Mission held at The Waverly Mobile Home Park on the morning of May 6. We had lots of produce, Post Cereal and milk to provide to our 126 families who drove through. We strive to make the experience as quick and pleasant as possible.
The Padgett Landmon Adopt-A-Mile litter clean-up of Clay Road, a section of Floyd Road and downtown Mableton took place on May 7. Volunteers from the Mableton Improvement Coalition, Lions Club and Friends of Mableton rolled up their sleeves to remove 17 bags of litter and other debris from the area. We had a good time and got a late start because we kept wanting to talk.
For more information on the Adopt-A-Mile program, contact Dawn at keepcobbbeautiful@cobbcounty.org. She will get you everything that you need to keep your mile clean.
-Barry Krebs
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Friday, May 6
The First Christian Church of Mableton hosted the May 5 Meals On A Mission event serving 134 families. Sweetwater Mission secured extra produce and milk this week that we added to our offerings. Volunteers from the church and South Cobb Lions Club were inspired by Executive Minister Barry Smith who encouraged us to give our time, effort and resources cheerfully as we bless others.
-Barry Krebs
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Tuesday, May 2
Keep Cobb Beautiful hosted the April 30 Paper Shredding and Medication Disposal event at the Cobb Civic Center. Over 700 cars drove through the parking lot with a very low wait time after the initial morning rush. We very much appreciate our police officers who handled the medication disposal, KCB Board members, KCB staff and especially our volunteers. We had a great turn out from POTROS Futball Club and FirstKey Homes. QTV MultiMedia provided the music which kept us moving. We celebrated afterwards with Chick-Fil-A and some good fellowship.
-Barry Krebs
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Monday, May 2
The Cumberland Christian Church and Lions Club volunteers assisted Sweetwater Mission on April 29 in providing 129 families with produce, Post Cereal, frozen pizzas and Kenny's Key Lime Pies. In addition, Sweetwater Mission had attained tortillas, cream cheese and tortilla chips. Deacon Joseph inspired us by his words of wisdom, "Lord, please be with our friends who are coming through this Meals On a Mission event as they go through the remainder of the day." We did our part to be as nice as possible to give our guests a pleasant experience.
-Barry Krebs
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Friday, April 29
On April 28, the First Christian Church of Mableton hosted the Meals On A Mission serving 123 families by providing them with dry/canned groceries, Post Cereal and Kenny's Pies. In addition, Sweetwater Mission brought frozen pizzas, cheese, tortilla chips and tortillas. Executive Minister Barry Smith reminded us that Jesus showed us how to serve others, swallow our pride, humble ourselves and do things for the sake of others. Keeping this in mind, our volunteers, which included members of the Junior League and the Lions Club, did our best to make our neighbors feel loved as we helped them with their food needs.
-Barry Krebs
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The inaugural community cleanup event on April 23 was a huge success. Thanks to all who volunteered to help Keep Cobb Beautiful. The driving force behind the initiative was to bring awareness to the county's litter challenges and beautify the district in honor of Earth Day on April 22.
There were three meeting locations and the five-hour event kicked off in D4's unincorporated Smyrna with Board of Zoning Appeals Chairperson Barkley Russell and her fellow members of the Forest Acres Civic Group, Rikki Ansley and Gillian Newberry. Smyrna's Ward 7 Councilman Lewis Wheaton also joined to put litter in its place. Chris Lanning, candidate for solicitor general, and his family joined at all three locations to help beautify the district.
A special thanks to: Keep Cobb Beautiful employees Kimberly White, Dawn Smith and Dr. Jenkins on their collaboration for the event and for the Dunkin Donuts for the fuel to get the group started as well as all in attendance to help; and KCB appointees Barry Krebs for also hiring a DJ, Jeff Padgett and the Adopt-a-Mile sponsors; Cobb PARKS for the tents, tables and chairs; Public Services Agency Director Dr. Jatunn Gibson and her assistant Grace Williams; The Austell Community Taskforce and the Mableton Improvement Coalition; IT, legal, communications and commissioner assistant, Deedra, for months of planning, collaborating and marketing the event; Cobb County Department Of Transportation for rolling up their sleeves and hauling off the collected litter.
The tally of litter collected was 2,400 pounds. Kudos to Rep. David Wilkerson and his wife, Penny, for joining the "Pick It Up Powder Springs" community event.
To see a short video about the cleanup, visit https://www.youtube.com/shorts/t6niHnDWjQ4.
-From District 4 Cobb County Commissioner Monique Sheffield's newsletter
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Credit Union of Georgia participated in National Volunteer Week, taking place the week of April 18.
Amanda Arnold, Vice President of Marketing & Business Development, and Farrah Dale, Marketing Specialist, visited and volunteered with Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta. The two gathered the requested donated items, put together bags and delivered them to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Outpatient Care Center on April 18.
Providing these requested donated items and having them ready to serve helped provide meal assistance to patient's families in need. This service provides the parents and guardians with the necessary nutrition needed while their child is being cared for in the hospital. Children's Social Work Department coordinates a food donation program and welcomes contributions.
Credit Union of Georgia was able to provide single serving microwavable meals, breakfast bars, fruit cups, granola bars, crackers and water.
For more information, visit www.CUofGA.org.
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Thursday, April 28
The Rotary Club of Marietta Metro recently partnered with Friends of Disabled Adults and Children for the collection of new and gently used medical devices and equipment like wheelchairs, bath rails, bedside toilets and walkers.
The collection was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Marietta on April 23 and was a great success," said Rene Lanier, Rotary Club Community Services Director. "Over $208,300 equipment was donated this year. "Our Rotary Club of Marietta Metro is very thankful to the community for taking advantage of this opportunity to donate equipment. It all will be used to help adults and children throughout our area and overseas. FODAC is recognized internationally and is a highly respected resource for the disabled."
FODAC is a 501(c)(3) which provides over $10 million each year in home medical equipment and has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. It is the only non-profit accredited provider of Home Medical Equipment in Georgia.
The Rotary Club hosts this event annually. However, FODAC makes regular pickups at MUST Ministries throughout the year so items may be dropped off there during business hours. Gently used equipment needed also includes beds, scooters, canes, bed and shower railings, braces, etc.
