CAC Seeking Volunteers to Serve Neighbors in Need

Following two years of facility expansion efforts to serve more people requesting emergency assistance for basic needs, the Community Assistance Center (CAC) is seeking additional volunteers to help provide services to neighbors in need.

The nonprofit is a volunteer-driven organization that helps to prevent homeless and hunger, and promote self-sufficiency in the Sandy Springs and Dunwoody communities. In 2018 more than 1700 volunteers gave 34,000 hours to CAC. That includes more than 350 dedicated volunteers who give time on a regular basis to operate all areas of the Center daily plus volunteer groups who provide manpower for projects.

Karen Baron, a Sandy Springs resident for 29 years, joined the CAC volunteer team six years ago following her retirement. She started volunteering once a week in the CAC Food Pantry and immediately felt a connection with the clients, volunteers and CAC's mission to help neighbors who are going through difficult times.

“I like the way everyone at CAC goes about serving with compassion and commitment,” said Mrs. Baron.

She soon led the recruitment and training of a volunteer team from her congregation, Temple Emanu-El, to staff CAC one Saturday a month. They, along with groups from Sandy Springs Christian Church and Rivercliff Lutheran Church, make it possible for CAC to open on three Saturday mornings a month. She has trained, encouraged and grown her group over the years. Recently she assembled another Temple Emanu-El group for a weekday shift in the food pantry.

"I get much more out of it than I give," said Mrs. Baron.

Mrs. Baron is an example of the hundreds of volunteers committed to helping the most vulnerable in our community who have nowhere else to turn in times of financial distress. CAC serves more than 5,6oo individuals from more than 2,500 households a year. Since CAC's founding in 1987 the nonprofit has touched 20,000 households.

More volunteers are needed in all areas of the Center, including the food pantry, thrift shop and reception desk. Volunteers are needed to conduct client interviews, return phone calls, do data entry, receive and sort donations, teach adult education classes and serve on the fundraising event committee. Volunteers would ideally be available a on re-occurring basis such as once a week. Shift days and times are flexible.

Volunteer groups from businesses, congregations, schools and organizations are also welcome for projects. For more information on CAC please visit www.ourcac.org. To join the CAC volunteer team please contact Nolan at volunteer@ourcac.org.