With the recent cut to SNAP benefits and Atlanta’s rise in food insecurity, our team put together a list of resources to help connect ATLiens with those who can help. So, if you or someone you know is in need of food or a hot meal, we hope this list of trusted organizations can help or someone you know, make it through this holiday season.
What a week to remember! Hands On Atlanta Week 2025 proved, once again, that when Atlantans come together with purpose, amazing things happen.
In partnership with The Same House and their Beloved Benefit Beneficiaries, this year’s Hands On Atlanta Week (October 4 - 11, 2025) brought people from every corner of our city to serve side by side — building connections, transforming spaces, and spreading love through action.
For the 2024 edition of Hands On Atlanta Week, presented by Delta Air Lines, more than 3,000 volunteers supported over 50 nonprofits and schools across 300 projects! The focus for the week prioritized projects around Food Security and Hurricane Helene relief efforts, but volunteers created meaningful impact in all kinds of areas including building bikes, park beautifications, tutoring elementary students and so much more!
We’re excited to introduce our newest Hands On Hunger cohort! Since 2018, in partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, we’ve led 10 cohorts of pantries through our intensive 2 year capacity-building program, with this being our 11th.
We’re excited this month to highlight AmeriCorps Member Amber Moore! Amber is a visionary leader with a passion for helping others. She serves as a Student Support Coach through AmeriCorps, in addition to volunteering throughout Atlanta.
Learn more about her journey to AmeriCorps, and how she’s shaping the future!
With the recent cut to SNAP benefits and Atlanta’s rise in food insecurity, our team put together a list of resources to help connect ATLiens with those who can help. So, if you or someone you know is in need of food or a hot meal, we hope this list of trusted organizations can help or someone you know, make it through this holiday season.
We’re excited this month to highlight AmeriCorps Member DeSeana Brockington! DeSeana holds a degree in PR and has a passion for youth advocacy and development. She serves as a Teacher Assistant through AmeriCorps, in addition to volunteering throughout Atlanta.
Learn more about her journey to AmeriCorps, and how she’s shaping the future!
I've always had a genuine passion for community service and helping others, especially youth in discovering, maintaining, and pursuing their dreams and aspirations. I was working in marketing and visual merchandising, and though I enjoyed the work, I didn’t feel like I was operating within my true purpose. I prayed and asked God to use me however He saw fit. Then one day, AmeriCorps appeared on my screen, and I thought to myself, “okay”. Out of faith, I quit my job. Two days later, I received a call from AmeriCorps, and that’s when I knew this was exactly where I needed to be.
I love my students. Every day, they inadvertently remind me to keep going, even when things get a little dicey. They help me stay connected to my childlike side, all while teaching me how to be a better influence and a better human being.
“I love the diversity. I’m from Savannah, Georgia, and I’ve never been exposed to so many people of color with different hobbies, aspirations, and lifestyles who yet still respect, support, and include one another.”
I want to use my platform and draw on the resources I’ve gained from my experiences and pay it forward to individuals, families, and communities in need.
In five years, I see myself serving not only the Atlanta community but also expanding my impact to other states and even countries.
I like to relax and enjoy my rent. Whether that means chilling at home watching All American or Scandal with a plate of food in front of me, or hanging out with my homegirls.
Are you interested in learning more about a year of service through the Hands On Atlanta AmeriCorps program? Click here to see all the program benefits, what you’ll do and more!
At Hands On Atlanta, we believe that service has the power to transform communities, and that transformation starts with one simple act: showing up.
When volunteers commit to a project but don’t arrive, it’s not just an empty spot on the sign-up sheet. It’s a missed opportunity to make a difference, to lift a child’s confidence, to feed a family, or to protect our planet. Every volunteer counts—and when we don’t show up, our partners and neighbors feel the absence.
Ghosting a volunteer project can create real challenges for our nonprofit partners and the communities they serve. These organizations often plan resources, purchase supplies, and design activities based on expected volunteer turnout. When volunteers don’t appear, staff are left to fill in the gaps, stretching already limited resources and time.
For example:
Education programs depend on consistent volunteer mentors to help students build trust, literacy, and confidence. When mentors skip a session, a student may lose valuable momentum.
Environmental sustainability efforts rely on teams of volunteers to clean parks, clear invasives, or maintain community gardens. A smaller team means fewer paths cleared and more litter left behind.
Food insecurity programs count on hands to sort, pack, and distribute meals. Every missing volunteer means fewer families fed that day.
When we fail to show up, we unintentionally send a message that the work, and the people aren’t important. But when we show up, we say something powerful: We care.
Hands On Atlanta’s network of nonprofit partners counts on reliable volunteers to keep their missions moving forward. They trust that when you sign up, you’ll bring your energy, compassion, and commitment. Your presence amplifies their impact and ensures that critical community needs are met, today and tomorrow.
Showing up doesn’t just help the cause; it strengthens our collective impact. Together, we’re building a more equitable Atlanta, one where everyone has access to quality education, healthy food, and a sustainable environment.
Volunteering is more than giving your time, it’s about being part of something bigger than yourself. When you commit to a project and follow through, you’re honoring that connection. And even if your plans change, a simple cancellation helps others take your place and keep the mission alive.
Small acts of accountability make a big difference. They turn community service into community strength.
At Hands On Atlanta, we’re proud to connect thousands of volunteers every year with projects that matter. Whether you’re tutoring a student, planting a tree, or serving meals, your presence is the heartbeat of our city’s volunteer movement.
If you have to miss a volunteer project, be sure to cancel your registration to give another volunteer a chance to serve. Reoccurring no-shows can result in our partners blocking you from future opportunities!
So the next time you sign up, show up. Because together, we make Atlanta stronger, greener, and more equitable.
What a week to remember! Hands On Atlanta Week 2025 proved, once again, that when Atlantans come together with purpose, amazing things happen.
In partnership with The Same House and their Beloved Benefit Beneficiaries, this year’s Hands On Atlanta Week (October 4 - 11, 2025) brought people from every corner of our city to serve side by side — building connections, transforming spaces, and spreading love through action.
In DeKalb County, International Community School (ICS) serves over 500 students whose families represent 60+ nationalities speaking 31 languages. In 2025, ICS adopted a Community School Model — transforming itself from a traditional school into a neighborhood anchor that weaves together academics, wraparound support, and community resources. This transformation is powered by a three-way collaboration among United Way of Greater Atlanta, Metro RESA (Regional Education Service Agency), and ICS itself.
At Atlanta Way Day, Kindred Lane and ATL DTN shared how they transformed vacant downtown spaces into native plant gardens by partnering with property owners, businesses, and residents. Their pilot sites showcased environmental benefits like reduced maintenance and stormwater control, along with social gains such as increased foot traffic, community pride, and local engagement. Through ongoing feedback and collaboration, they refined their design approach and laid the groundwork for citywide expansion.
On Atlanta Way Day, I Will Survive, Inc. & West Cascade Medical Center showcased how their AI-powered mobile health unit bridged care gaps for families lacking access to preventive checks and mental health support. Visiting churches, shelters, and food pantries, the team delivered screenings, risk assessments, and wraparound referrals. While noting challenges like cost, privacy, and community trust, they shared how their model proves that high-tech and high-touch care can thrive together in underserved communities.
![COX_jpg_color[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5939441b1e5b6c8ab18e524f/1585575053403-97BXOUA7L0450WDM09Y5/COX_jpg_color%5B1%5D.jpg)
