Alleviating and Preventing Homelessness

Poverty Is Real Raises $6,000 for DCM

dcmdecatur — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:39:44 +0000

DCM benefited from a two-day concert last summer presented by Poverty Is Real (PIR). A fledgling, Decatur-based nonprofit, PIR joins forces with local musicians to organize concerts that raise public awareness of issues such as poverty, domestic abuse, and homelessness in our communities.

Poverty Is Real’s concert series at Eddie’s Attic raised $6,000 for DCM programs. The concerts included performances by local favorites including Matthew Kahler, Rebecca Loebe, the Lindsay Rakers Band, Arlington Priest, and more. PIR also organizes concerts in other Southeastern cities including Athens and Nashville.

“Poverty is a huge issue, but as a nation, we don’t talk about it – we sweep it under the rug and have a tendency to blame the victims,” said Poverty is Real’s founder and president Mike Killeen. “PIR’s mission is simply to change that notion. We want to go from town to town spreading the message that poverty is a local issue and use a good time and popular local music to share that message. We want the audience to leave feeling good and having a better understanding of poverty in their community.”

For more information, visit http://www.povertyisreal.us/ and stayed tuned to see what comes next from PIR.

Children at Hagar’s House Enjoy New Play Area

dcmdecatur — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:13:03 +0000

“The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground.” – G.K. Chesterton

Thanks to a gift from the Stanford family, pictured at left, young children at Hagar’s House can now enjoy new playground equipment, complete with a fort, slide, and baby and toddler swings. The new play area was dedicated, along with other courtyard improvements, during a casual ceremony in August. The parents of David Johnson, who oversaw the courtyard construction project last spring, donated new riding toys during the holidays, and in January 2012, the Goforth family installed a new basketball goal for older children and youth to enjoy.

In March 2012, the new courtyard will be named in memory of Nona Horowitz, mother of former board member Michael Horowitz. Mrs. Horowitz passed away last fall, and Michael and his family honored her life with a generous gift to Hagar’s House.

HomeAid Atlanta Partners with Players, Builders for DCM

dcmdecatur — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:01:21 +0000

Former NFL players and volunteers from the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association at DCM’s transition house in South Decatur.

Members of the Atlanta NFL Players Association former players chapter, HomeAid Atlanta, and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association joined together on November 22nd for a HomeAid Care Day to repair one of DCM’s transitional houses. The former players and volunteers spent the day cleaning and painting the home’s interior, power washing the exterior siding and clearing debris from the gutters, removing overgrown plants and pruning shrubbery, and doing various repair tasks to help prepare the home for a happy, healthy and joyous holiday season.

“It was heartwarming to see people from different organizations coming together and pooling their resources for the common purpose of giving back and helping those in need in our community,” said Dan O’Dwyer, president of HomeAid Atlanta. Many thanks to HomeAid Atlanta and all of the volunteers for making DCM’s transition house a great place to come home to.

Garden of Eatin’: A Taste of Decatur Another Success

dcmdecatur — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:00:14 +0000

DCM held the 16^thAnnual Garden of Eatin’: A Taste of Decatur on September 24th at the Decatur Family YMCA. As always, the event brought the community together around food and fellowship

— all for a good cause.

Around 400 attendees enjoyed delicious samples from 22 Decatur-area restaurants, a silent auction with over 100 unique items, and four performances by talented local musicians. The Garden of Eatin’: A Taste of Decatur netted over $16,000 to support Decatur Cooperative Ministry’s programs that alleviate and prevent homelessness in DeKalb County and Metro Atlanta.

Many thanks to 2011 Presenting Sponsor The Coca-Cola Company, other sponsors, restaurants, performers, guests, and volunteers who made this year’s event a great success! To see more photos and a complete list of sponsors and participating restaurants, visit the Garden of Eatin’: A Taste of Decatur website.

News and Needs – January 2012

dcmdecatur — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:43:54 +0000

Have you checked out DCM’s News and Needs for January 2012? It contains DCM’s in-kind donation needs for the month as well as DCM’s impact for 2011.

A review of the 2nd Annual DCM Sip and See event

dcmdecatur — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:32:06 +0000

Hagar’s House, a local emergency night shelter for women with children, held their 2^nd annual Hagar’s House Sip and See yard sale fundraiser this month. The entireAtlanta community was invited toNorthDecaturUnitedMethodistChurch Saturday, June 4th from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. to explore hot deals on a variety of items, while sipping cool refreshment. This year was a great success with over $2,600 raised to support the shelters provision of ongoing basic needs to homeless families in our community. This event was not only about unifying our community; it was also about serving our community.

The yard sale was open to the public, and featured a variety of modestly priced items, including gently used home and office furnishings, books, electronics, toys, and art. Visitors were sure to find a treasure at a very minimal price among the wide collection of items. The atmosphere of the event was casual and welcoming, and cold lemonade was available to offer relief to the summer’s heat. Customers could come to the yard sale and browse among the assorted items with the assistance of enthusiastic and knowledgeable Decatur Cooperative Ministry staff as well as new and old Decatur Cooperative Ministry volunteers. Also, a very special collection of individual workers within the church offered to lend a helping hand to the cause including Ms. Stubbs, Mr. Alfred, Ms. Janet and former Pastor Lee Fullerton. “We are so very grateful for God’s instrument NorthDecaturUnited Methodist Church being in place and for allowing their facility to be used to host this type of mission effort” says Hagar’s House Program Manager, Ms. Corbin.

Inspired by the inspirational biblical story of Hagar’s courage and endurance through adversity, the shelter is called “Hagar’s House” and features various support services for women with children experiencing homelessness. Hagar’s House is owned and operated by Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM). DCM is a faith-based nonprofit agency serving neighbors in need for the past 42 years. DCM offers emergency shelter, transitional housing, financial assistance and education, and a food cooperative for struggling families.

Young and Talented

dcmdecatur — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:51:19 +0000

Every year the Apex Society, an invitation only, young professionals club based inNew York, debuts their “Power 30 under 30” awards. This award honors a small, but diverse, group of successful men and women under the age of thirty all across theUnited Statesin various professional fields. Decatur Cooperative Ministry would like to congratulate one of our very own board members, Labriah D. Lee, for being named one of the 2011 Atlanta Power 30 under 30 honorees. Working as an IP Litigation Associate at Alston & Bird LLP, Ms. Lee was recognized alongside thirty-one other successful business men and women inAtlanta. A few other honorees included Kathryn Powell, president of the Atlanta Junior Chamber of Commerce, Erica Byfield, Reporter at WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News, and Matt Ryan, Quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons.

The recipients of this award are the ambitious young trendsetters, persuaders, and great leaders of our future. Congratulations Ms. Lee!

Read more on this story here: http://www.power30under30.com/honorees2011atlanta.php

Upcoming: Sip and See Shopping Spree- Yard Sale fundraiser

dcmdecatur — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:46:15 +0000

2^nd Annual DCM Sip and See Yard Sale Coming June 4th

Saturday, June 4th from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. the entire Atlanta community is invited to come to North Decatur United Methodist Church to explore hot deals while sipping cool refreshment at the second Annual DCM Sip and See Yard Sale.

Featuring a variety of items, including gently used home and office furnishings, books, and art, this yard sale is an opportunity to enjoy great deals and helping a good cause.

This event is open to the public and located at the North Decatur United Methodist Church,1523 Church Street, Decatur Georgia 30030. Onsite parking is available. You may call 404.370.0914 with any questions.

All proceeds benefit Hagar’s House, an emergency night shelter for women with children, owned and operated by Decatur Cooperative Ministry. Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM) is a faith-based nonprofit agency serving neighbors in need for the past 42 years. DCM offers emergency shelter, transitional housing, financial assistance and education, and a food cooperative for struggling families. Visit www.decaturcooperativeministry.org to learn more.

Annual IFMA Clean-Up Day a Great success.

dcmdecatur — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:14:41 +0000

International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Volunteer Day 2011 was a great sucess.

IFMA members organized their annual clean up effort of the DCM Emergency Night Shelter, Hagar’s House, for this past Saturday May 14th and much was accomplished. DCM is a community partner of IFMA and appreciates the work of IFMA its members. “The IFMA volunteer day enabled us to complete all the work needed to prepare the building for painting in a short period of time and at very little cost” says Ms. Vann, DCM Executive Director.

The clean up included minor exterior repairs, preparation for exterior painting, and overall restoration of curb appeal that “would have taken weeks to complete otherwise” indicated Ms. Vann. The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) is a member-centric association that exists to guide and develop facility management professionals by providing exceptional services, products, resources and opportunities. For more information on IFMA current events and ongoing programs visit http://www.ifma.org/

UPCOMING: Mike Killeen ft. in “Poverty is Real” Concert for DCM

dcmdecatur — Mon, 16 May 2011 16:41:34 +0000

Poverty is Real:A Benefit for Decatur Cooperative Ministry and sponsored by the Barns Law Group

Coming Friday, June 10th and Saturday, June 11th, all of Atlanta is invited to enjoy musician Mike Killeen in concert at Eddies Attic located at 515 #B N. McDonough St,Decatur,GA 30030 in a benefit concert for Decatur Cooperative Ministry.

The Poverty is Real Concert will showcase Mike Killeen, talented Folk Rock artist, on guitar, vocals, and harmonica. To learn more about Mike check out his page: http://mikekilleen.com/ .The concert will also feature various other musicians, including: Matthew Kahler; Trances Arc; Lindsay Rakers Band; The Bitterroots; Maria Gabriella; Mike Killeen, and more. Concert times still to be determined. Tickets will be available at www.eddiesattic.com

Proceeds will benefit Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM), a faith-based nonprofit agency serving neighbors in need for the past 40 years. DCM offers emergency shelter, transitional housing, financial assistance and education, and a food cooperative for families experiencing homelessness and for those at-risk of hunger and homelessness. Visit www.decaturcooperativeministry.org to learn more.