Hear from Saint Luke’s member Betsy King about Habitat for Humanity:

How did you first get involved with this partner?

I got involved in FP in North Carolina with our old church. I was the coordinator there. 

What is your greatest joy from being a part of this mission partner

The greatest joy is seeing children have a warm, safe place to live while their families get back on their feet. 

What do you want others to know most about this mission partner?

Family Promise vets the families in the program  very carefully and offers job training, budget training and so many other things to keep the families from becoming homeless again.  

How has being a part of this mission impacted your life? Your view of Jesus’s call to us as Christians?

Jesus said to help the least of these and Saint Luke’s has opened its doors to those in need. 

Is there a person you have met through this mission you wish others could meet?

I think people should meet  Andrea Brantley the director, Wanda Hunter social worker  and Btittany Mason. They have really brought Family Promise back to life with their commitment and zeal for the program. 

Hear from Saint Luke’s member Daryl Moore about Habitat for Humanity:

How did you first get involved with this partner?

Saint Luke’s partnership with Atlanta Habitat For Humanity is about fulfilling dreams – dreams that prospective Habitat home buyers have of owning their own homes. That partnership extends to fellow church congregations and, most importantly, to the Habitat home buyers whose house we help build. Saint Luke’s has been partnering with Dodd-Sterling United Methodist Church to build a house each year for 24 years, with additional churches joining Saint Luke’s and Dodd Sterling beginning in 2013.

What do you want others to know most about this mission partner?

A simple, decent, affordable place to live for everyone – that is the goal of Habitat For Humanity. But that is only part of the story. This amazing ministry is transformational, bringing a completely new dimension into play with the home buyer and the home buyer’s family members! Pure joy and gratitude – that is what we see in the faces of each home buyer throughout the build and especially on the day when the house is dedicated and the keys are handed over. 

Is there a person you have met through this mission you wish others could meet?

Our home buyers starting in 2004 – Michelle, Patricia, Rosalee, Kimberly, Sonya, Latonia, April, Christina, Poch, Kong, Wanda, Valory, Jerry, Shyuana, Diawara, Kechial, Ericka, Sonja, Lisa, Antwonette, Nilaja

Didn’t we just host Family Promise? Yes! And now we get to do so again starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving…and also the week of January 2. The pace will slow after that. Specifically, we next host November 28-December 5…a great way to start Advent and share our Thanksgiving blessings. COVID is driving homelessness up again, so we especially need your help now.

Like last time, we will only have one overnight host, although couples remain welcome. We again need move in and move out crews on the Sundays. We are also asking that one family per night drop off dinner for the guests. Unlike our traditional approach, we are asking that the dinner provider NOT dine with the guests to maintain COVID social distancing. 

We are still requesting grocery and gas gift cards. These will be used 4 ways: 1) for the coordinators to purchase breakfast, lunch, snack, milk, tea, etc. 2) for the guests if we have a night where no one volunteers to provide dinner, 3) gas for guests, and 4) occasional urgent needs for other homeless children and parents in the community who are not in our program (yet).

Here is the link: https://tinyurl.com/SLPC-FP2021-11

If you need any help signing up online, just email or call Betsy King @ 404.431.3852 [email protected] or Catherine Kitchens [email protected]. Beth Underhill will lead move in and move out. Thank you!

We each have our own story and call, passion about working for justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God. Each person responds to Gods call by bringing their unique gifts to help further Saint Luke’s mission and outreach efforts locally and around the globe. Hear from Saint Luke’s members Bob Shultz (below right) about the Community Assistance Center (CAC), that is near and dear to his heart.

How did you first get involved with this partner?

Started around 2012 when I retired.  CAC was reaching out for volunteers to help with their Holiday Adopt a Family program.  Been there ever since.

What is your greatest joy from being a part of this mission partner?

Meeting people of almost every nationality and background and being able to help with getting them out of a tight situation.  When a client walks away with a bag of groceries and starts eating in the parking lot, you know you have done something right.

What do you want others to know most about this mission partner?

CAC is local to Dunwoody and Sandy Springs and serves everyone irrespective of race, religion, or background.

How has being a part of this mission impacted your life? Your view of Jesus’s call to us as Christians?

To help people in need.  It’s very humbling when you see how close some are to the edge and to see their face when CAC is able to help, this was especially true during covid.

Is there a person you have met through this mission you wish others could meet?

Tamara Carrera, the retired Executive Director, and Judy Lagerbloom, a tireless volunteer.

Anything else that you would like to add to help others know about this mission?

CAC is local to Sandy Springs and Dunwoody with a focus on preventing hunger and homelessness, providing assistance for basic needs such as utilities, food and clothing, and actively engaging clients to work towards greater self-sufficiency.