The
Georgia Avenue Food Cooperative, Georgia Avenue Community Ministry, Inc,
Georgia Avenue Presbyterian Church, Atlanta,
Georgia
There are four food cooperatives which comprise the Georgia Avenue Food
Cooperative. Thirteen families in need of food held a meeting on February 28,
1991, launching the first food co-op. This
group then elected a Steering Committee from among its members. The members began using the Georgia Avenue Church
facilities for meetings, devotions, discussion of broader neighborhood concerns and
general fellowship. They have contributed
muscle power and money from their limited resources to sustain the co-ops and transport
the food from the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the state farmers market. Chad Hale, pastor of the Georgia Avenue Church,
and his assistant Brian Lowring, were and still are the coordinators of co-op #1. In September,
1994, two of the original co-op members, Jackie Palmer and Fay Romero, concerned
about the long list of families on the waiting list, began a second co-op. They were awarded a start-up grant from the
Self-Development of People Fund of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. Co-op #2 is still coordinated by these women who
are longtime residents of the community. These
women offer a ministry to others in need, plus they receive some income for using their
gifts and talents. The first meeting of co-op
#3 was held on October 15, 1999. This coop is also coordinated by indigenous leadership --
Ella Duffy, a former member of co-op #2, and Kenny Redding, a former member of co-op #1. Co-op #3 was begun with funding from the
Presbyterian Hunger Fund. Co-op #4 began on
September 28, 2001, with a grant from the Michael and Belinda Morris Family Foundation. Ella Duffy coordinates this co-op too along with
Helen Lamar (a former member of co-op #3).
Georgia Avenue Food Cooperative has a total membership of
approximately 200 families. This
year they expect to distribute more than 110 tons of food.
The co-ops are membership only organizations which are open to anyone in
need who pledges to help make the co-ops succeed. Members
pay $2.00 to join and $2.00 at each meeting, if they are able. The co-ops meet every other week, at which time
members receive food, spend time in fellowship, have a devotional time or community
speaker, share prayer requests and needs, usually share a snack or meal, and receive a box
of food valued at from $35 to $100, depending on the size of family. Members then clean up and return home.
Most of the members of the co-ops reside within a 1 mile
radius of the church building, in the Summerhill/Grant Park area. Most members
have incomes that fall below the poverty threshold determined by the government.
Approximately 95% of those who are members of the food cooperatives are African American,
5% Caucasian. Many of these are single-parent
households, primarily headed by women. The
co-ops are faith-based, organized and run by the members of the co-ops and by members of
the Georgia Avenue Church, respecting the racial and religious differences of all who come
to take part in this unique program.
Below are some of the major accomplishments of this wonderful
ministry:
(1) people have
food they would not otherwise have;
(2)
relationships are developed with other members of the community as well as members of the
church;
(3) community is
formed;
(4) people are
strengthened in their faith and encouraged in their relationship to God whether they
identify themselves as Christian, Muslim, etc.;
(5) racial
reconciliation takes place through working together;
(6)
self-development and salvation occur as individuals are freed of alcoholism, jobs are
obtained, parents take their child-rearing role more seriously, and healing occurs;
(7) people’s
gifts and assets and energy are drawn forth and put to work to help to keep the co-ops
operating.
Contact points:
The Rev. Chad Hale and Brian Lowring, Co-directors
The Georgia Avenue Community Ministry, Inc.
645 Grant St., SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
Phone: 404-688-0871
Website: www.gacm.org
E-mail: whale37@earthlink.net |
