July 2025 Newsletter:
Summer of Caring
Summer is a time when many of us get to take a break from the usual routine. The team at THCA hopes you are enjoying the summer sunshine, enjoying time with loved ones and taking care of yourself!
Self-care has, in fact, been on my mind lately – for those we serve, for those who serve us, for the THCA team and for myself. Now, self-care for me this summer has not only included time with family at a tropical location, but also attendance at a faith-based conference. While this might not be everyone’s idea of a spa day, it absolutely reinvigorated me.
This Spring and now into this Summer have been challenging times, to say the least, here at THCA, as we strive to continue living into being Neighbors Helping Neighbors by providing food – and compassion. Budget cuts, and inflation, and grocery stores closing, and SNAP and Medicaid being drastically reduced, and food costs still going up…
What the conference did for me, though, is remind me that I, we, none of us are alone. We are better together. And the only way to face and overcome the challenges is by caring for ourselves and others.
One of the most interesting things I have learned in the last few years is that generosity toward others is actually good self-care. Numerous studies have shown that giving can boost your physical and mental health in numerous ways. It boosts serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin – all chemicals in your body to affect mood, pleasure and connection. Yet one more aspect of the way that we all need one another.
You all probably know this, though, as the generosity of our supporters continually amaze with how many people give so much, so often.
Just two short months ago, I put out the call that we needed at least 700 of seven different items to keep our shelves stocked for the summer. Thanks to the generosity of the people of six of our partner churches and one of our supporting local businesses, we reached that goal and more! We did receive at least 700 of each of the items we asked for, and one congregation even went well beyond with over 1100 cans of beans.
The second week of July we literally would have been scraping the shelves, but thanks to the generosity of those answering the call, the 675 boxes we gave that week were filled with pasta and rice and beans and green beans and tomatoes and crackers and canned fruit. Thanks to those partners who answered the call, 675 families had less worry and more food, more compassion, more hope.
And there are yet more families that will need that same kind of support: food, compassion, and hope. At a little over halfway through the year, we are on track to meet or break the records we set last year, when we gave out over 1.4 million pounds of food to over 35,000 families.
Families like:
- The family of a a disabled veteran and his wife, who are so grateful every week when their box of food is delivered through our partnership with Door Dash
- The family who makes it a point to come to our Mobile Food Pantries, bringing people with them, and taking food back to share with those who are unable to come themselves
- The unhoused couple who moved here to start grad school, but have had their plans upended by budget cuts, and are so glad to get a hot meal, easy to prepare food, and compassion.
In the face of the continued great need, you all have provided that support by giving more individual gifts than last year. And, that is a really good thing, since our food and other costs have gone up dramatically.
The need is not going down, and in fact, may increase as budget cuts, job cuts, and inflation continue. The costs – especially the cost of food – to provide the basic need of food is only going up.
What that adds up to is an incredible opportunity for you to continue to support your neighbors AND care for yourself at the same time.
We can help you to be generous by giving you the opportunity to:
1) Donate money. July is usually the lowest month for giving for most non-profits. Help us break the mold and reach our goal of $10,000 in July!
2) Organize a food or supply drive. Here is a list of needed items. If you can collect at least 600 of any food item, that will be enough for a week. But, whatever you can collect will definitely help.
3) Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Then, like and share our posts – make sure your friends, family, and neighbors know about us so they can become part of our community, and help make a positive impact, too.
Five years ago, we lost a great Georgia, US, and world leader on the passing of John Lewis. I leave us with his words to inspire us:
Grateful to be making a way with you all,
Rev. Dr. Lisa Heilig,
Executive Director
Thank you so much for all of you who wrote or called our federal legislators regarding the huge cuts to SNAP and Medicaid.
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the reconciliation bill passed and about 30% of our neighbors on SNAP in Georgia are at risk of losing SNAP benefits that help them to access food for their families.
One part of the bill is that some of the cost of SNAP will be assigned to the state. Georgia has not yet signalled what they will do. So, stay alert for possible advocacy opportunities for our state legislators.
Our US Representatives and Senators are on break for the month of August. This would be a good time to invite them to THCA and see how our community could use help to overcome food insecurity. Anyone with direct contacts to any of them, please email the information to [email protected]
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