We Are Stronger…
Because of Our Volunteers
At Toco Hills Community Alliance, we are Neighbors Helping Neighbors, by sharing food – and hope.
Because Hope Is Stronger Than Hunger. 
There is no doubt at all that our volunteers are the beating heart and busy hands of Toco Hills Community Alliance. Some 100+ volunteers are needed every week to be able to serve the neighbors who come for food. Thanks to them, our neighbors have boxes and bags filled with food, hot meals ready to go, and a warm, hospitable welcome waiting for them here.
Thanks to our Candler School of Theology interns interviewing them, here are a few stories of the many dedicated volunteers who come to joyfully share their time and energy here at THCA each week.
On Wednesday mornings, you will find Nancy in the “box room” coordinating the packing of the boxes of food to share. She has been at THCA for 8 years, making her one of the longer serving volunteers.
She has noticed how very much the need has increased over the years, especially the last few months.
Nancy loves that we are able to provide our neighbors a balanced box of a variety of grocery staples, as well as bread, produce, and meat. She enjoys the camaraderie of other volunteers and that she can live out her commitment to giving back to her community.
(Michelle Driscoll, Interviewer)
Four and a half years ago, Debra had just moved to Atlanta and was invited by a neighbor to come volunteer. She also works in the “box room” with a crew of people on Tuesday mornings. She has become very close with the crew she works with and developed great friendships.
“This is the highlight of my week, coming to Toco Hills Community Alliance,” says Debra. For her, she values the relationships with people working toward the same mission.
(Jimmy Cooper, Interviewer)
In 2020, soon after the COVID shutdown, Terry started volunteering at THCA, looking for a chance to stay active while helping people and giving back. She also works in the “box room” on Wednesdays, staying into the afternoon, packing more boxes if needed.
Terry likes the different people she meets here, and appreciates that the volunteers come because they want to, not because they have to. For her, volunteering here has been very rewarding.
(Hyo Ju Park, Interviewer)
Are you getting the picture of how we are stronger with and because of our volunteers from their many walks of life?
Here’s a few more to meet:
A third year undergraduate student at Emory studying neuroscience, and preparing to go to med school, Virginia is committed to helping the community in more ways than clinical, as she works Thursday mornings in the produce room, bagging fresh produce to share.
She has enjoyed getting to meet wonderful people and to see the impact being made. “THCA has become a place I really look forward to,” Virginia says, “I like to be in a place where I know community is being built.”
(Kara Nelson, Interviewer)
Wednesday mornings in the produce room is where you will find Janice, who says that she feels honored to be part of the special group and special place that is THCA, where we see a need and are filling it. “It is amazing how we make it work”, she says, “but we make it work”
She comes to this work out of a desire to help different people and make their lives better, and appreciates getting to know people who also care deeply about other people.
(Meline Globisch, Interviewer)
After retiring from a career in consulting, Audrey starting volunteering with THCA about a year ago, working on Tuesdays sorting supplies and on Wednesdays registering our neighbors. She loves coming to THCA, meeting all the different people, volunteers and neighbors, all so welcoming to her.
She is passionate about her work here, and says, “It is the best part of my week by far.”
(Lauren Chepaitis, Interviewer)
I hope you have enjoyed getting to know just a few of the THCA volunteers, who make what we do possible. In the last few months, you have heard how we are stronger because of our community partners, because of our Board and our staff. In the last few weeks, you have seen how the need has spiked and we have served record numbers.
Without the volunteers who bring in the deliveries, sort and pack the food, make the meals, direct the traffic, register our neighbors, give out the food, clean up along the way, it simply does not happen.
We are definitely stronger because of our volunteers.
To learn more about criteria for volunteering, you can go to our website at https://tocohillsalliance.org/volunteer/ If you meet the criteria and have time during weekdays, you can also sign up from that page.
If, for any reason, you cannot volunteer here at THCA, remember there are still ways to volunteer out in the community, as outlined in my last email.
Friends and Neighbors,
These past few weeks prove it more than ever:
It takes our community partners, staff, Board, volunteers, and YOU
to take on food insecurity in our neighborhood.
THANK YOU for being part of our community and part of our team.
THANK YOU for stepping up in this time of crucial need.
THANK YOU for being Neighbors Helping Neighbors – senior citizens, disabled veterans, working families, unhoused and more –
who find not just food here, but hope.
Coming together in compassionate community, together, we are making sure that
Hope Is Stronger Than Hunger.
In Immense Gratitude for your support,
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