Strong, safe communities have deep roots. Organizations like Rockdale Emergency Relief are crucial to keeping our local community protected and healthy. Founded in 1967, Rockdale Emergency Relief is the longest-serving organization solely dedicated to Rockdale County residents in need of assistance. As a resident of Rockdale County, it’s important to support your fellow neighbors. There are a number of ways to contribute to this vital cause, whether through the donation of time, money, or items.
Community Support in Conyers
Nutritious food is the foundation for a productive, happy life, and this food bank provides nutritious food to more than two thousand Rockdale households. Your school, church, or company can help your neighbors by organizing a food drive to collect the most needed food items.
The RER Community Food Bank has also partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to provide meals to the elderly. The foodbank works with the Rockdale County Master Garden Extension Volunteers to donate fresh produce as part of the Plant a Row for the Hungry project. They even offer cooking classes to help food bank participants find healthy, creative ways to prepare the produce they receive.
Summer Lunch Program in Rockdale
Food insecurity is a serious struggle for children, especially in the summer. The Atlanta Community Food Bank has found that one in four children in Georgia faces more hunger in the summer, due to the loss of free or reduced school lunch programs.
Rockdale Emergency Relief coordinates a summer lunch program for local children; this program is very much a grassroots effort, offering sack lunches donated by local groups and individuals. The percentage of children who are eligible for free or reduced lunch programs is a good way to assess the financial stability of a community; in Rockdale County, that percentage has raised dramatically.
For families in need of clothes and linens, the RER Community Clothes Closet is available to those referred by the local community and faith organizations or self-referred. These clean, gently-used clothes help keep your Rockdale County neighbors warm in cold weather, able to go to work or school in nice, professional clothes, and more. You can help local families by holding a clothing drive at work or with a community group, or simply by donating your own gently-used clothing.
Holiday Giving in Conyers
The Rockdale Rotary and Conyers Rotary Clubs also partner with Rockdale Emergency Relief during the holiday season for the Conyers-Rockdale Empty Stocking Fund. This fun holiday tradition provides gifts for children whose families are unable to provide gifts for the holidays.
Emergency Financial Assistance Support
Recently, Rockdale Emergency Relief has embarked on an effort to revamp its program by partnering with a number of local organizations to increase collaboration and consolidate efforts to avoid duplicating resources.
The new Restoring Home program is based on a “housing first” Ideology that focuses on getting homeless families into permanent housing situations as soon as possible. Thanks to the dedication of local organizations to work together, these families have access to a multi-disciplinary set of resources providing coordinated support.
Support Community By Volunteering
Food or clothing drives are critical to helping Rockdale Emergency Relief continue its efforts to serve families in temporary crisis situations, but volunteers are also an essential part of providing support. Volunteering benefits the organization, the community, and you. Sharing your time and talents with your neighbors helps give you a sense of pride and connection to your community. Studies have even shown that volunteering provides individual health benefits.
Importance of Community Support
Rockdale Emergency Relief is dedicated to neighbors helping neighbors. It is incredibly important for local residents who are experiencing economic insecurity, homelessness, hunger, or housing instability to be able to depend on the strength of the Rockdale County community to support them in their time of crisis. By partnering with other non-profits, community and faith organizations, government, and more, Rockdale Emergency Relief brings help and hope to neighbors in need.
We are proud to take a step away from our desk serving as personal injury lawyers in Conyers to focus on serving with our community partners.
Michael Geoffroy’s law practice focuses on auto collisions, premises liability, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury. He stands up for the cause of justice throughout Georgia and on behalf of his clients every day. He is a leader in both the courtroom and the community, having been recognized numerous times for his involvement in each.