Your monthly newsletter about The Place and how serving with purpose helps change lives. | |
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December 2022
Dear Cristy,
It’s hard to believe we are coming to the end of 2022 and the holiday rush is upon us. Our staff and volunteers are finishing up the months’ long preparations for our annual Holiday House. This year’s event will provide gifts for more children than ever before.
When I saw the number of families asking for help to provide holiday gifts for their children, I was not surprised. The Place’s requests for food and financial assistance have been going up all year.
As a supporter of The Place, you know we are where families turn when they are left feeling defeated and hopeless. Since 1975, our commitment to helping those most vulnerable--children, elderly, homeless, and poor--has never wavered. But in today’s uncertain times, we are witnessing these populations growing at an unprecedented rate.
Now, more than ever, we need your continued support. Your gift will support programs and services to:
- Feed families through our weekly food pantry
- Help neighbors with emergency financial assistance
- Assist our youth with school supplies and holiday gifts
- Lend a hand to homebound seniors
- Support our young adults to achieve a brighter future
- Provide training, education, and mentoring to job seekers
I hope you and your family have a blessed holiday season,
Serving with Purpose,
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President & CEO
The Place of Forsyth County
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Join Us in Our First Holiday Fundraising Challenge
Until December 31, The Place will be working hard to spread the word about our mission. We will collect donations to reach our goal of $100,000 so we can continue our programs and services.
When you start your own fundraising page on social media, you can make a major difference in the lives of our neighbors in Forsyth and Dawson Counties.
Let's get started! Sign up now to become an official fundraiser for The Place and start setting up your fundraising page! Click here for instructions.
If you're not able to fundraise or donate, we'd still love for you to be a part of the fun! Share our fundraiser link on your social media pages to spread the word!
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Enthusiastic Volunteer Groups
The Place is grateful to have amazing volunteer groups at our Dawson food pantry!
One of our volunteer groups is from Creative Enterprises. This wonderful group of volunteers have helped two to three times a month for almost a year.
In October, the group made Halloween candy bags to be distributed to clients. They have also helped organize and restack inventory, cleaned a storage room, and loaded banana boxes to help distribute food.
Read More...
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GED Classes, Training Program Helps Food Pantry Client
Cammie came to us in January of 2022. She was accepted into The Place’s six-month Adult Training Program in the Warehouse Career Pathway. Cammie was a food pantry client, feeding three children with her single paycheck. Cammie also enrolled in and attended The Place’s GED classes.
When she started at the warehouse, Cammie was very quiet and unsure of herself. As time went on, Cammie became more confident in her job--and in her abilities to do the job. She drove the box truck, learned and was certified on the fork lift, and became comfortable with our inventory/ordering system software. Cammie was an asset to the process at the warehouse.
Read More...
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Baby, It’s Cold Outside!
Please bring your gently used coats, all sizes (infant to adults), to our offices anytime during our operating hours. When our clients come to our offices, we give them the opportunity to take the coats they need for their household. Thank you!
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Forsyth County - 2550 The Place Circle, Cumming, GA 30040. Mondays through Thursdays, 8 am to 5 pm and Fridays 8 am to 12 noon.
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Dawson County – 517 Allen Street, Dawsonville, GA 30534. Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and Thursdays 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Dawson Thrift Store (RIC-Rack), 829 GA 9 North, Dawsonville, GA 30534, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 am to 4 pm.
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Holiday Hours
The Place will be closed on:
- Friday, December 23 and Monday, December 26 (Christmas).
- Friday, December 30 and Monday, January 2 (New Year’s).
Our thrift stores will be closed from December 23 through January 2 for inventory. The thrift stores will reopen on Tuesday, January 3.
Food will not be distributed from December 26 through January 3. Food distribution resumes on January 4 (Forsyth County) and January 5 (Dawson County).
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Holiday House Supporters
The Place is grateful for the many organizations that are supporting our 8th Annual Holiday House. We estimate we will provide gifts for over 2,100 children this year.
Without our incredible supporters, Holiday House would not happen.
- Financial sponsors
- Organizations that have donated storage space
- Companies and schools that provided drop-off gift sites
- Plus, the many, many gift drives by group throughout our community
Click here to see the numerous organizations that supported us this year.
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Volunteer Opportunities
If you want to volunteer during Holiday House, click here to sign up.
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The Place truly appreciates the ongoing support of those who partner with us to help our neighbors. Everyone who supports us is much appreciated, even if we unintentionally miss including the name of your organization on this list.
To learn how your organization can help support the programs and services at The Place, email us at community@theplaceofforsyth.org.
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Why I Volunteer
John Sharp has been volunteering at The Place for six years. He has worked in almost every area except the Thrift Store.
What does volunteering mean to you?
“The Place does really good work in our community. Volunteering allows me to give back to the community. I feel appreciated for the time I spend and I get to work with a bunch of good people.”
What do you like about volunteering at The Place?
“The Place has numerous behind-the-scenes tasks that ensure all donations given are accounted for and that ensure our clients are properly served. When I volunteer at The Place, I know that what I do is helping to serve others. Everyone who enters one of these facilities is greeted and welcomed with a smile and an offer to help.”
What would you say to someone who is considering volunteering at The Place?
“Check out the volunteer opportunities that are available from The Place’s website and you will find one that fits your skill set. I have found that all levels of volunteering are appreciated, including work that uses your professional skill set. It’s just a matter of volunteering and seeing how The Place can use your skills.”
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Become a Volunteer!
The Place was voted the best place to volunteer in Forsyth County in 2021! If you’d like to join our amazing team, please fill out an application and attend a one-hour orientation session at The Place.
To fill out a volunteer application, please click here. You’ll be able to sign up for an upcoming orientation session during the application process. For more information, contact phillip@theplaceofforsyth.org. Thank you!
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Your continued support is needed and appreciated so we can continue to help our neighbors in need.
You can help advance our efforts by:
- Providing monthly financial support
- Making The Place of Forsyth your favorite charity at smile.amazon.com or krogercommunityrewards.com.
- Adding a bequest in your will
- Giving the gift of a percentage of your estate or a specific asset
- Naming The Place as a beneficiary in your life insurance or retirement plan
- Creating a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to direct your IRA distributions to a qualified 501(c)(3) charity
The Place of Forsyth County, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 58-2355072.
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The Place of Forsyth County, 2550 The Place Circle, Gumming, GA 30040
The Place of Dawson County, 517 Allen Street Dawsonville, GA 30534 and Dawson Thrift Store (RIC-Rack) at 829 Hwy 9, Dawsonville, GA 30534
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