Working Poor Face Summer Challenge to Feed Children, Pay for AC

An old song begins with familiar lyrics: “Summer time, and the livin’ is easy.” But the words don’t ring true for the working poor in Midtown Atlanta, many of whom come to the Midtown Assistance Center (MAC) for help. Requests include food and help to transport it, payment of utility bills, fans and shoes.

For one thing, school is out and the children are home and won’t receive the reduced price or free breakfast and lunch at school five days a week. “Children are eating at home and the need for extra breakfasts and lunches impacts the family budget,” said Dorothy Chandler, Executive Director of MAC. “As a result, we see the demand for food at MAC’s Food Pantry rise dramatically during the summer months.”

Transportation for themselves and their heavy groceries marks another problem for the working poor. Many walk because they don’t have money for MARTA. Whether traveling on foot or by bus, they need the help of a rolling cart to carry heavy bags of groceries. Rolling suitcases provide an alternative solution. Suitcases (new or old) may be donated to MAC to give to those in need.

Summer heat drives up utility bills and challenges the already limited budgets of many of the working poor individuals. The Midtown Assistance Center encourages those who have air conditioning to turn the thermostat up to help contain costs and use an electric fan to move the air in the home. Running the AC unit less and using a fan has proved to be more cost effective. MAC welcomes the donation of fans or money that can be used to purchase fans for their clients.

Finally, MAC’s clients always need footwear. Running shoes that may be too worn to take for a morning run still have plenty of wear left in them. MAC wants donations of sound athletic shoes, especially for men, as well as work shoes. Shoes should be machine-washed before they are donated.

Photo caption: To help this woman, the Midtown Assistance Center gave her a shopping cart to carry her two bags of groceries, an electric fan for her home and a needed pair of reading glasses.

The Midtown Assistance Center, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency financial assistance to the working poor of Midtown Atlanta to forestall homelessness and poverty during periods of personal crisis. Located at 30 Porter Place, just off Peachtree Street in facilities provided by Atlanta First United Methodist Church, MAC is a collaborative effort of ten Peachtree corridor congregations. In addition, MAC receives private and public funding.