Combined with support from its school partners in Norcross (Pinckneyville and Summerour Middle School), Lawrenceville (Sweetwater Middle School), Snellville (Snellville Middle School), community partners such as Redemptive Life Christian Fellowship Church, Main Street Restaurant, Lee Consulting Company, Mr. and Ms. Greek ATL, the Gwinnett County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (and other members of the Black Greek Letter Fraternity and Sorority system), events such as the Black Ice Effect and Jennifer Franks' Holiday Soire', corporate sponsors Huddle House, Aeropostale, Wal-Mart, Target, Build-a-Bear, and Toys-R-US, a radio appearance on Twanda Black's morning show (104.1 Kiss-FM), as well as individuals from metro-Atlanta and other areas, the ABC2 campaign seemingly seemed primed for success. Given the partnership with the Northeast Georgia Area Alpha Men and the LEAD Foundation, Inc., the program, which provided new and slightly used teddy bears and stuffed animals to some of the childrens' hospitals and medical facilities in the metro-Atlanta area, seemed like a good idea to provide some holiday cheer.
It wasn't a good idea; it was a great idea.
"We are extremely overwhelmed by the support we received from so many people", notes coordinator Christopher Banks. "We wanted to do something to provide a measure of uplift and outreach, but we never imagined this".
The "this" he's referring to is the number of deliveries to the area childrens' hospitals. A total of five deliveries are made to facilities including Egleston Childrens' Hospital, Snellville Pediatrics, and this past Friday's delivery to Hughes-Spalding Childrens' Hospital.
Combined with a holiday-based function at Marlow's Tavern the evening before the Friday delivery date, individuals braved the rain and elements to deliver addition items. As a result, every child and parent is provided an animal, including their 2 1/2 hour visit to Hughes-Spalding.
"In one instance, one of the families had just gone through a trying time", adds Michael Woodward, the executive director of the LEAD Foundation. "It is our hope that what we are able to do provides some sort of holiday cheer and a way to just let them know that people are thinking about them. Even our program students and parents are taking time to help out".
Sondra Brooks, volunteer coordinator at Hughes-Spalding, agrees. She notes that a number of groups either cancelled or simply did not show up for their scheduled hospital visits this week, the week of Christmas.
"It says a lot about the LEAD Foundation, as well as the Alphas (Northeast Georgia Area Alpha Men), for them to stick to their commitment and think of others, especially during this time of the year", she remarks.
In being able to provide deliveries to five hospitals, and given the support of so many people, the ABC2 Campaign achieves its goals of serving as many young people as possible who are confined due to health and other related issues. More importantly, outreach and stewardship are clearly in "style", not only during the holidays, but all days.
First of all, servants of all, we shall transcend all, combined with developing tomorrow's leaders today, provide a measure up community outreach and uplift. And that clearly is a good thing, five times over.
Comments