HomeAid Georgia: 24th Annual Essentials Drive

Did you know that the average age of a homeless person in Georgia is just 9 years old? And, 38% of Georgia's homeless are mothers and children. Mandy Crater, executive director of HomeAid Georgia, joins host Carol Morgan on this week’s Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio episode. In this podcast episode, Crater discusses the HomeAid Georgia Essentials Drive and how home builders, trade partners and individuals can get involved. This year's drive expands beyond metro Atlanta to include Athens and midwest Georgia as well. This year’s Essentials Drive runs April 1–30  and every diaper counts! Let’s come together as an industry and make a difference for families in need. “Most folks don't realize that the average age of a person experiencing homelessness, pretty much nationwide, is about nine years old,” said Crater. “That means there's a lot of babies in that mix too, and so about a little over 12,000 people on any given night are experiencing homelessness, and about 38% of those are moms and children of all ages.” HomeAid Georgia’s 24th Annual Essentials Drive HomeAid Georgia has been closing the gap on statewide homelessness since 2001, working alongside local trade partners to provide housing for those in need. While its trade partners cover a lot of the residential needs of these individuals, there are items that mothers need that aren’t covered by any state program, such as diapers, baby wipes and feminine hygiene products. The Essentials Drive is key to alleviating that financial burden by offering moms these household essentials free through local nonprofits. This year, HomeAid Georgia and its partners are collecting donations from April 1 to 30. Visit www.homeaidatlanta.org/essentials-drive to find a list of donation drop-off sites accepting donations of diapers and baby wipes from April 1 – April 30. Items that are collected need to be dropped off at the Greater Atlanta HBA on Wednesday, May 7. Volunteers will sort items at the HBA on Thursday, May 8. And items will be delivered to the service providers on May 9, just in time for Mother’s Day! What items are needed? Wipes are always requested due to their versatility. From freshening up during a diaper change or cleaning sticky toddler fingers, wipes are the gift that keeps on giving! Crater also points out that diapers, especially Pull-Ups, are a hot commodity at the non-profits HomeAid works with. The Essentials Drive provides mothers with the basics, enabling them to feel stable and make informed choices that support not only their children but also themselves. Donations should be new and in original packaging: Diapers (All Sizes & Pull-Ups) Unscented Baby Wipes Feminine Hygiene Products Adult Diapers Monetary donations (click the Donate button on the website) If you can’t make a physical donation, the Amazon and Target wish-lists are a great way to make a difference and ship directly to HomeAid Georgia. More Than “Just the Essentials” In addition to offering mothers a bundle of resources, the nonprofit partners that HomeAid Georgia works with counsel these women to find the "why” behind their homelessness and help them move forward from its grasp. From parenting classes to budgeting assistance, they provide more than just the essentials; they also offer a supportive system to help these women achieve their goals. Crater said, “They really get at the root of ‘What was the issue that caused you and your family, your baby, to experience homelessness, and how do we solve that issue?’” Get Involved in the Essentials Drive Want to get involved this year? Volunteers can reach out to HomeAid Georgia through its website to assist with sorting, drop-offs and more. Crater says that HomeAid often doesn’t know what to expect until donations start arriving on May 7, so it’s always better to have more hands available. “When you show up with a load of diapers at a nonprofit, they're so happy to have you, and they're just so excited,