We Are Stronger...
Because of Our Partners
At Toco Hills Community Alliance, we are Neighbors Helping Neighbors, by sharing food – and hope. Because Hope Is Stronger Than Hunger.
Founded in 1998 by multiple faith community partners, THCA was launched to provide emergency assistance to neighbors in need. And for almost 30 years, THCA continues to be a trusted community resource for those seeking food – and our partners have made this possible.
For years, Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church supported a food pantry very close to their Buckhead location. In the midst of COVID, that food pantry ceased to exist. Yet, the congregation has such heart for feeding people that they wanted to find another food pantry to work with. In 2022, the Chair of their Missions Board contacted us here at Toco Hills Community Alliance and a beautiful community partnership was born.
It started out slowly, with food drives for THCA, and then progressed to them volunteering for us at Mobile Food Pantries. In 2023, Second Ponce came on as a formal, Supporting Partner. And, now, they are a host site for an every other month Mobile Food Pantry at their location. Each time, in addition to their ample space, they provide 20 to 30 volunteers to ensure that the 9,000 pounds of food is shared with over 150 families – now the only distribution of free groceries in all of Buckhead.
Second Ponce has also continued their food drives, their financial support, have two Members on our Board of Directors, and I am pleased to say I have had the privilege of speaking with their congregation more than once. This is truly a partnership, with both parties in it together.
Pictured with me above is Rev. Allie Osborne, Minister of Missions at Second Ponce and THCA Board Member. Of our partnership, she says:
Second-Ponce is so grateful for our partnership with Toco Hills Community Alliance. They have not only given us the opportunity to put Christ’s purpose for us into action, they have also inspired a spirit of radical generosity in our congregation. There is something so spiritually refreshing about the work done at THCA; Second-Ponce is blessed to be a part of this community of hospitality, hard work, and hope.
It is because of community partners like Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church that we can keep sharing food – and hope.
As we continue with Hunger Action Month, and start the kick off to our Annual Campaign, we will highlight at few more community partners on social media in the next few weeks. So, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to find out more. And invite your friends, family, neighbors, and others to follow us, too.
If you have been following us there, then you would have already seen the exciting news that we have received a grant from The Community Corps.
We are so very grateful for this funding that will help us keep providing Mobile Food Pantries, like the ones at Second Ponce. Because of this, we will be able to continue to share food – and hope – at alternate sites and times at least once per month throughout the next year.
Truly, we do need all of our community partners, and working together, they give us strength. They show us that Hope Is Stronger Than Hunger.
If you know of agencies, businesses, congregations, civic associations, that might be good partners, just email me and let me know. I love to go wherever I can to share the good work of Toco Hills Community Alliance that you, our amazing supporters, together with our community partners, staff, volunteers, and Board, make possible.
In Immense Gratitude for your support,
One other way to help out Toco Hills Community Alliance is to donate specific items that are needed; you could even coordinate a drive at your school, work, or neighborhood!
With federal legislators back in Washington, DC, this Hunger Action Month is a good time to contact them. Let them know that you are concerned about hunger, about upcoming cuts to SNAP, and that we need a strong Farm Bill to include adequate funding for nutrition programs.
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