Give Back to Atlanta Nonprofits in Honor of National Give Something Away Day

We’re all familiar with the phrase, “It’s better to give than to receive.” According to research, it has been shown that giving to others does, in fact, make us happy while also creating positive ripples in the world. With National Give Something Away Day just around the corner on July 15th, this is a perfect time to pay it forward, especially when so many organizations around Atlanta could use a helping hand. Take a look below to find ways you can give back to Atlanta nonprofits in honor of National Give Something Away Day!

Clean out your closet and give to local charities

Atlanta Step-Up Society: The Atlanta Step-Up Society is a nonprofit organization that supports the homeless created by a group of men and women who were once homeless and recovered from alcohol and mind-altering chemicals. Your generous donation and the support help the Atlanta Step-Up Society give a hand up, not a hand out. Find their list of needs that includes clothing, household items, tools, books, bedding, and more HERE.

American Kidney Services of Metro Atlanta: American Kidney Services (AKS) is a local, nonprofit Atlanta charity that strives to help kidney disease sufferers who are in financial need. Donating to AKS helps kidney disease sufferers in Atlanta and beyond. AKS accepts an array of items from clothing to furniture at their drop-off locations or check out their website to schedule a pick-up HERE.

Dress for Success: The mission of Dress for Success Atlanta is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Find out more about donating gently used, nearly-new professional attire HERE. 

Goodwill: Donating to Goodwill makes a difference in people’s lives, strengthens communities, and creates a healthier environment. Goodwill’s mission is to put people to work while keeping millions of items out of landfills. Proceeds from sales support the operations of their Career Centers and other programs. Find out more about how to donate HERE.

Lost-n-Found Thrift Store: Lost-n-Found Thrift Store accepts new and used goods from the community to support their self-sustaining solution to end LGBTQ youth homelessness in Atlanta. Proceeds from items sold are used to support street outreach, a youth center, and transitional housing for homeless LGBTQ youth. Learn more HERE.

Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta: The Furniture Bank’s vision is for all individuals and families to have the furniture necessary to create a safe and secure environment that contributes to health and well-being. The Furniture Bank recycles gently-used furniture by collecting it from the community and giving it to individuals and families moving out of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, and countless others struggling to make ends meet. Find out how you can help HERE.

Second Life Atlanta: Second Life Atlanta has two upscale thrift stores benefiting homeless pets. Since 2011, their mission has been to offer an excellent resale experience with proceeds benefiting animal rescues and spay/neuter programs. Second Life Atlanta accepts an array of items from clothing to furniture while helping homeless pets. Learn more HERE.

Give your time and volunteer 

Atlanta Community Toolbank: The Atlanta Community ToolBank lends tools to nonprofits and charitable organizations that equip volunteers. Those volunteers complete service projects, making Atlanta a more vibrant and progressive place for everyone. Find out how you can lend a hand HERE.

Habitat for Humanity: Atlanta Habitat for Humanity transforms communities by acting as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization through education, innovative development, partnerships, and long term relationships with families. Find remote volunteer opportunities HERE.

Hands On Atlanta: Hands On Atlanta helps individuals, families, corporate and community groups strengthen Greater Atlanta through service at more than 400 nonprofit organizations and schools. Hands On Atlanta is an affiliate of the HandsOn Network, an association of 250 volunteer service organizations across 16 countries. Discover in-person or at-home volunteer opportunities HERE.

Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta: Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s mission is to engage, care for, connect, and strengthen the Greater Atlanta Jewish community for the benefit of the Jewish people. Make an impact on lives in Atlanta and around the world by volunteering with JFGA. Find out how you can impact lives in Atlanta and around the world by volunteering with JFGA HERE.

Meals On Wheels Atlanta: Meals On Wheels Atlanta’s mission is to support senior independence through meals, shelter, education, and community. Volunteers can pitch in by helping in the kitchen or being a driver. Learn more about opportunities to help MOWA support our seniors HERE.

Pebble Tossers: Pebble Tossers is a youth development nonprofit with a mission is to empower and equip youth to lead through service. Learn more about how you and your family can make a ripple effect with in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities HERE.

United Way of Greater Atlanta: The mission of the United Way of Greater Atlanta is to engage and bring together people and resources to drive sustainable improvements in the well-being of children, families, and individuals in the community. Learn about safe and responsible volunteer opportunities in which you can support Atlanta communities HERE.

Purge your kitchen and give to a food pantry

Atlanta Community Food Bank: The Atlanta Community Food Bank’s mission is to fight hunger by engaging, educating, and empowering the community. Every year, ACFB works with more than 600 nonprofit partners—including food pantries, community kitchens, childcare centers, night shelters, and senior centers—to distribute over 60 million meals to more than 755,000 people in 29 counties across metro Atlanta and north Georgia. Discover how you can join ACFB’s efforts to fight hunger by donating much-needed food items HERE, and ACFB’s COVID-19 response needs HERE.

Hosea Helps: The mission of Hosea Helps is to rescue, restore, and re-stabilize at-risk and homeless individuals and families so they can thrive and become self-sufficient. Find current needs for their food pantry items along with additional supplies HERE.

Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta: The goal of Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta is to build a community of empowered lives by making hope and opportunity happen. Building on their 125-year history, JF&CS is here to help individuals and families of all faiths live to their full potential. Find a list of their much-needed food as well as household items HERE.

Toco Hills Community Alliance: Toco Hills Community Alliance is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency food assistance to individuals and families in need in the northeast communities of Atlanta. Learn how you can donate food, supplies, and clothing HERE.

Malachi’s Storehouse: Malachi’s Storehouse is primarily a food pantry that provides emergency groceries, hot lunches, and used clothing for those in need. They also have an organic garden on their grounds that provides children and adults a hand’s on educational experience and an opportunity to access fresh produce. Learn how you can donate clothing, canned goods, toiletries, and diapers HERE.

Grant a Wish for Those in Need

Atlanta Mission: Atlanta Mission transforms the lives of those facing homelessness. Since its 1938 beginnings, this nonprofit ministry has grown from a small soup kitchen to a multi-facility organization serving Metro Atlanta’s large homeless population. You can find their Wish List of urgently needed items for individuals who live at the Atlanta Mission HERE.

CHRIS 180: The mission of CHRIS180 is to heal children, strengthen families, and build community. Many children in CHRIS180’s foster and group homes arrive without the simple necessities of daily life. The Wish List items ensure that CHRIS180’s group and foster homes, along with their Summit Trail apartment residents, do not go without basic needs. Find their Wish List HERE.

City of Refuge: City of Refuge is a nonprofit organization committed to helping individuals break the cycle of poverty in their lives. City of Refuge partners with individuals and families in crisis through five key impact areas: Anti-Trafficking, Health & Wellness, Housing, Vocational Training, and Youth Development. Find their Amazon Wish List HERE.

Gateway Center: The Gateway Center works to end homelessness in Metro Atlanta through therapeutic programs and community collaboration. GWC provides over 330 places for men who enter into programs geared to address the underlying reasons for their homelessness, such as unemployment, addictions, mental illness, or domestic abuse. Find their Wish List HERE.

Georgia Center for Child Advocacy: Georgia Center for Child Advocacy’s mission is to champion the needs of sexually and severely physically abused children through prevention, intervention, therapy, and collaboration. You can find a Wish List of items needed by the Center to provide the best possible services to the children they serve HERE.

Our House: Our House is on a mission to end the cycle of homelessness for families by providing shelter and education for families experiencing homelessness to thrive. Our House provides children and families with supplies so they can focus their resources on achieving lasting self-sufficiency. Find their Wish List of immediate needs plus volunteer opportunities HERE.

Support animal shelters

Atlanta Humane Society: The Atlanta Humane Society’s mission is to prevent neglect, abuse, cruelty, and exploitation of animals and to assure that their interests and well-being are effectively and humanely protected by an aware and caring society. Find items on their Wish List HERE.

Lifeline Animal Project: The mission of Lifeline Animal Project is to end the euthanasia of healthy and treatable dogs and cats in animal shelters. LifeLine Animal Project manages Fulton and DeKalb County animal shelters and offers numerous programs in the community to keep pets and people together. Find their Needs List HERE.

PAWS Atlanta: The mission of PAWS Atlanta is to build a community of caring by people helping pets and pets helping people. Support PAWS Atlanta animals by donating items from their Wish List HERE.

Contribute by donating funds 

Atlanta Women’s Foundation: The Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s mission is to be a catalyst for change in the lives of women and girls. AWF has created an emergency fund for grantee partners to help achieve the greatest impact and to address the greatest needs of the community. Learn more about how to donate HERE.

Covenant House:  Covenant House Georgia serve youth experiencing homelessness with unconditional love and absolute respect, while providing immediate needs, education and vocational skills. Discover ways to give including donations HERE.

International Rescue Committee: The International Rescue Committee in Atlanta creates opportunities for refugees and immigrants to integrate and thrive in Georgia communities. A donation to the IRC in Atlanta will help refugees who have been granted sanctuary in the United States become self-sufficient, productive members of their new communities. Find out more about how you can help HERE.

Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta: Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta promotes social change and creates positive opportunities for Jewish women and girls. JWFA enriches organizations and communities in serving Jewish women and girls via effective grantmaking, advocacy, and education through a gender lens. Find out how you can support the work of JWFA HERE.

Open Hand Atlanta: Open Hand Atlanta seeks to eliminate disability and untimely death due to nutrition-sensitive chronic disease. As seniors and medically-fragile individuals must continue to shelter in place, and low-income communities suffer from the economic impact of COVID-19, making a donation will help ensure that Open Hand can continue to play a critical role in addressing this dramatic increase in food insecurity statewide. Find out more about the Emergency Meals Fund HERE.

Second Helpings Atlanta: Second Helpings Atlanta is a nonprofit food rescue organization whose mission is to reduce hunger and food waste in the Metro Atlanta area by rescuing surplus food and distributing it to those in need. They are seeing a significant surge in demand as more Atlanta families are experiencing food insecurity amid school closures and job losses. Find out how to donate HERE. 

Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers: The mission of Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers is to transform the lives of children, their families, and communities through model early childhood education and leadership in the field. Learn about how you can give to the Sheltering Arms Family Emergency Fund HERE.

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