Care Force Chronicle - Atlanta, GA

Thursday, October 14th, 2009 – Andrew Duffy

Care Force traveled to Atlanta, GA in October for a powerful week of physical service. In the city where “Every Day Is an Opening Day” our week opened with some damp and chilly weather. Representing Team Care Force were Susan Bensen, Kimberly Ferguson, Ken Wakwe and Andrew Duffy, all under the guidance of Project Manager, Hugh Harlow. Our trip was brightened by the addition of Reserves from City Year Miami; Project Leader Erin McCreary and Corps Member Neil Stanga. We were also luckily graced with presence of City Year Boston’s Admissions Manager, Jasmin Jimenez.

The ARAMARK service site for this project was The Atlanta Union Mission. They were chosen as the site for their long history of working with women and children. Established in 1938 as a refuge for homeless and hungry displaced by the Great Depression, the Mission has grown from a single shelter in downtown Atlanta to six facilities across the city. The sites provide emergency food and shelter, residential recovery programs and transitional housing for the residents of Atlanta. The Howell Mill Road Campus provides shelter for 264 women and children while also offering counseling, life skills training, and work therapy. In addition, the Mission runs a thrift store whose profits directly support the Mission’s program. There were two goals for the week, the first being to enhance the interior and exterior appearances. The second goal was to forge a relationship between the center and the local ARAMARK employees to optimize their ability to prepare clients for re-entry into the work place.



Seven projects were planned to help bring new energy to the center through indoor additions and outdoor enhancements. Though Mother Nature tried her best, the volunteers showed tremendous flexibility through inclement weather and were determined to see their day of service through. Team 1 assembled benches and picnic tables to maximize outdoor seating around the barbeque, as well as moving massive piles of mulch and dirt. Team 2 constructed bookshelves and cubbies to provide storage space in the classrooms used for counseling and group meetings. Team 3 built outdoor planter boxes that will be used as part of an outdoor classroom for the women of the shelter. Working at a feverous pace, Team 4 painted three classrooms a vibrant shade of green, along with Team 2’s bookshelves to create more welcoming spaces. Team 5 cleaned out the Mission’s donation closet and then built new storage for the area. Team 6 painted murals for the walls, and Team 7 gave a face lift to the center’s stairwell railings.


Though dampened shirts weighed them down, the spirit of the ARAMARK volunteers remained lifted. The volunteers worked through the weather and tight working spaces to complete all the projects within the allotted time. It is appropriate that the Atlanta Union Mission’s logo depicts a street lamp aglow with light, for the smiles on the clients faces will create a beacon of hope that will reach the darkest of corners throughout the city.