$18,500 Church Donation to CAC Symbolizes Community Support

Dunwoody United Methodist Church gave the Community Assistance Center a check for $18,500, Tuesday, to help support families that the non-profit serves. 

“There’s a real need in the community for the CAC,” said Rev. Ashley Fitzpatrick. “We all care so much about Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and our neighbors.”

She presented the check to CAC board chairman Bob Levinson during the organization’s annual meeting, held at the church. Fitzpatrick said the donations were collected through an annual Christmas Eve offering, last year. In 2011, the church gave the CAC $30,000.

“Without that kind of support, we couldn’t survive,” said Levinson. “Everyone makes a difference.”

Based in Sandy Springs, the CAC serves Sandy Springs and Dunwoody families and individuals in need. It was started by 10 congregations in 1987 and now has 30. 

Levinson provided an overview of support the CAC has received. In 2012, the non-profit received $774,728 in cash donations; $876,284 in in-kind donations; and $505,000 in volunteer time with 23,700 hours.

Some specific donations included: 

• A $10,000 matching grant challenge from the Couchman-Noble Foundation to help CAC expand its thrift boutique. Levinson said David Couchman and Melanie Noble-Couchman, of Sandy Springs, provided the seed money to get the project started.

• Hundreds of volunteers with the Second Helpings program at Temple Sinai delivered 231,441 pounds of food from 17 local organizations to the CAC.

• Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church issued a grant challenge that provided school supplies for 674 students. 

• The Rotary Club of Sandy Springs provided hundreds of winter coats for people in need. Children received a gift in their coats. The Rotary Club adopted 1,000 children during the holiday season, Levinson said.

• The Shumard Family Foundation provided and delivered 1,000 holiday meal baskets to clients over the last two years.

• Two Men and a Truck provided free labor and transportation for food pick-ups, transported holiday boxes and moved donated furniture for new offices.