Event Calendar: https://tinyurl.com/ykb6t7pd
Sign-up Genius: https://tinyurl.com/2hv5bryd
To volunteer for Books for Africa on a weekday,
sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/4dbkh594
To volunteer with Books for Africa on a Saturday,
contact Noelle at 919-699-8745 or nfbroyles@yahoo.com.
- NEW! POPP Cards & POPP Backpacks - Encourage teens and young men in local juvenile detention centers with 60 handwritten cards and 8 backpacks with supplies (for those leaving the center) per month
- Baseball Buddies - Partner with children with disabilities as they play a game of baseball! (Both games in May have been FILLED! Thank you, volunteers!)
- Sunday Suppers - Honor Dr. King's legacy by hosting a meal with new friends outside of your normal circles to build a "Beloved Community"
- Youth Villages "Birthday Heroes" Celebration - Celebrate birthdays with children who have experienced trauma - Next: Sat, March 25!
- Read with HOPE! Care Ministry - Read & share books with children living in local apartment communities
- HOPE "Depot Days" - Help sort donations at the Lighthouse, every Thursday, 10am-noon
- Gratitude Packs for Veterans - Put together a small "thank you" bag for local veterans visiting the Marietta VA
- Books for Africa - Weekly opps to sort books to be shipped to countries all over Africa
- North River Care Ministry - Make Care Packs, Gratitude Packs, or POPP Packs (info coming soon!)
- Care Card Ministry - Care Cards, Cards for Veterans, POPP Cards (info coming soon!), & Cuidado Cards (Spanish)
- Adventure Centers Mission 1:27 - Bible-based after-school program for elementary school children
- MUST Ministries - Organize and distribute food boxes for at-risk school-age children and families within Marietta
Updated March 21, 2023
HAPPENING NOW!
New Opportunity! POPP Cards & POPP Backpacks
YES! Family Meal Sharing | Sign Up Here!
Family Meal Sharing is April 1, 2023
From the YES! Program: Since 2015, we've been showing up for our neighbors to provide supplemental meals for their winter and spring breaks from school. Perhaps it is more felt than ever as some face the 'hunger cliff' due to last month's discontinuation of additional nutritional resources that were provided by SNAP during the pandemic. We still need more North River teams to join the fight. Please prayerfully consider sponsoring a family and signing up today! It is a great opportunity to serve as a family group, neighborhood team, family, etc.- it takes a village. Our current economy undoubtedly has its challenges; if this is not the season for you to team up with others to provide meals, we covet your prayers for the hearts of those who have the means to give to be moved to action.
Dr. King's Legacy | Sunday Suppers
SUNDAY SUPPERS
Starting in January and continuing throughout the year, we're all invited to host a Sunday Supper to share a meal and meaningful dialogue with a neighbor.
A guide for families/family groups on hosting a Sunday Supper:
HOPEww Sunday Suppers full presentation (great for those hosting): https://tinyurl.com/6apc3vy4
Ben Barnett’s Instagram post on Sunday Suppers: https://tinyurl.com/3nzufzf2
View this post on Instagram
INNER HARBOUR CAMPUS | Youth Villages
Saturday, March 25th - 1:00-3:15 pm (Douglasville, GA) - Volunteers 21+
Join us for a day of celebration with children residing at Youth Villages, a highly respected, comprehensive treatment program for 120+ children and youth with emotional and behavioral challenges due to childhood trauma. Celebrating birthdays together at these events is the highlight of the month for every child!
* After the party this month, there will be an opportunity to attend a 1-hour orientation for our future volunteers. This will include a tour of the campus and facilities and a conversation with the Youth Villages Coordinator.
Monthly encouragement cards & birthday party supplies are also desired!
If you're interested in encouraging this special group of children, please contact Debbie Swain, 757-812-0256; swain.debbie@yahoo.com.
Read with HOPE! | Click here for more details
Opportunities coming in June & July!
The Read with HOPE! “mobile library” book lending program is for children living in local apartment communities who lack access to books during the summer months. There are three to four 1-hour opps (June or July) to read & share stories with local children to grow literacy skills and encourage a lifelong love of reading. Alternately, help organize and label books within the HOPE Depot so that we can lend and gift books locally and internationally. Many weekly opportunities are available!
For more information or to express interest, contact Noelle Broyles at 919-699-8745 or nfbroyles@yahoo.com.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES - COME HELP THEM GROW!
HOPE "Depot Days" | NORTH RIVER
GRATITUDE PACKS FOR VETERANS | Care Ministry
Click here for details on what to include!
We are excited to honor and encourage veterans who visit the new VA Clinic on Cobb Parkway in Marietta! Gratitude Packs will include a healthy beverage and snack and a handwritten “Thank You” card expressing our gratitude for the service and sacrifices of these brave men and women.
Gratitude Packs provide a great opportunity for family and community groups to serve together. Talk to your family group leaders about planning a packing party!
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Pick up the Gratitude Pack logos and the red, white, and blue paper bags from the HOPE Depot (family group members contribute the items that go inside)
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Drop off completed packs at the HOPE Depot
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NR members Tracy Barlow (LCSW) and Joe Mulligan (LCSW) will distribute Gratitude Packs to veterans who visit local VA Clinics
Individuals of all ages can write cards of encouragement. Click the link above for excellent samples of Care Cards and to read our Gratitude Pack bookmark as a reminder of why it is deeply important to honor our veterans.
ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES:
CARE PACKS | North River Care Ministry
Click here for details on what to pack!
Let's serve together with our family & community groups to create and distribute Care Packs to every NR family/individual to keep in their cars or backpacks!
Then when we meet individuals who are experiencing homelessness, we can encourage them with a genuine hello, a smile, and a Care Pack! Our church family will restock our Care Pack during the first week of every month.
Contact: Noelle Broyles, 919-699-8745; nfbroyles@yahoo.com
BOOKS FOR AFRICA
Click here to sign up for a sort-and-pack shift!
Books For Africa collects, organizes, and regularly ships hundreds of thousands of high-quality books to countries throughout the continent of Africa every year!
Volunteers are needed to help sort and pack books for 2-hour time shifts:
Monday - Friday: 9-11 am or 1-3 pm
Saturdays: 9-11 am or 12-2pm
Saturdays are for experienced volunteers only, though new volunteers may also accompany experienced volunteers.
Volunteers must pre-register via the website and participate in a brief orientation at the beginning of the shift. (No walk-in volunteers). Groups of 16 can serve together. The minimum age is 14 years.
Contacts: Jen Hale, Coordinator, jen@booksforafrica.org
NR Contact: Noelle Broyles, 919-699-8745; nfbroyles@yahoo.com
INNER HARBOUR CAMPUS | Youth Villages
Click here to see a list of ways to serve!
A highly respected, comprehensive residential treatment program for 120+ children and youth with serious emotional and behavioral challenges due to childhood trauma.
Volunteer Opps: For volunteers 21+, come and serve at monthly “Birthday Heroes” Parties for children, usually on the 3rd Saturday of every month from 1-3 pm! It is the highlight of the month for every child!
Monthly Encouragement Cards & Birthday Party Supplies desired.
NR Contact: Debbie Swain, 757-812-0256; swain.debbie@yahoo.com
West Cobb Family Group celebrates the Birthday Heroes every month!
BASEBALL BUDDIES | Coming Spring 2023!
This program pairs volunteers 1:1 with children with disabilities as they play a game of baseball, while the players' parents get to sit in the stands and enjoy watching their children play. All North River volunteers together will be paired with one team and join them for their games. Games will take place between the hours of 9:30-12:30 (times will vary) and last approximately one hour. This is a wonderful serving opportunity that is fun for everyone!
If you're interested in volunteering in Spring 2023, please contact Noelle Broyles, 919-699-8745; nfbroyles@yahoo.com.
BLOOD DRIVE | American Red Cross
Find a drive near you today!
The COVID pandemic has created severe blood shortages, and this campaign enables us to easily meet a huge need. Simply fill out the short application, pick a day, time and a convenient site near you. We encourage everyone to invite family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and folks from your community to become a “blood buddy” to donate with you as you give blood and the gift of life.
ADVENTURE CENTERS | Mission 1:27
Click here for a range of opportunities!
Bible-based after-school program for elementary school children located within five Walton apartment complexes throughout the Marietta area.
Volunteer Opps: Fun devotionals, games, and activities to be prepared and shared with the children every month. Available at two Marietta locations (Walton Ridge Center on Cobb Parkway and Ridenour Center on Barrett Parkway). Volunteer time is about 1.5 hours, usually starting at about 3 pm. Times can vary.
There are also limited “in-person“ volunteer opportunities for reading, math help, sharing skills like sports, music, arts and crafts. Monthly Care cards and specific donations are often needed!
NR Contact: Noelle Broyles, 919-699-8745; nfbroyles@yahoo.com
SERVING OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED | MUST Ministries
Click for service opportunities!
Quarterly opportunities for North River members to organize and distribute food boxes for at-risk school-age children and families within Marietta. Specific supplemental donations are regularly needed.
Contact: Jasmine Jackson; 404-849-5570; jazzjaz14@gmail.com
Contact: Noelle Broyles; 919-699-8745; nfbroyles@yahoo.com
Sheltering Arms
Click here to fill out the volunteer application!
Respected Early Childhood Development centers (13) throughout the Atlanta area providing education/support for at-risk children. Sheltering Arms provides opportunities to read with children, share life skills, mentor, and help clean up the center.
ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS
YMCA Food Relief
Shady Grove Baptist Church Food Relief for the Homeless