Essentials for Young Lives

HomeAid Atlanta collects more than 48,000 essential items for homeless babies and toddlers
during its 2007 Essentials for Young Lives Drive!

HomeAid Atlanta’s sixth annual Essentials for Young Lives Drive was held November 11-17, 2007 in support of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, with more than 48,000 items donated by local businesses and individuals. The annual community-wide drive collects much needed everyday items for homeless babies and toddlers in the metro Atlanta area.

In partnership with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, Boral Bricks, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Opteum Mortgage, The Providence Group, and many other local companies and individuals, HomeAid Atlanta sponsored the drive to collect essential items such as diapers, baby wipes, baby food, formula and baby laundry detergent. Thanks to the generosity of the local community and the homebuilding industry, the drive was a tremendous success, collecting a record number of essential baby items, including 14,284 diapers, 31,922 baby wipes and 1,857 miscellaneous baby items such as baby food, clothing, bottles and baby hygiene products.

All essential items collected were distributed to local transitional housing facilities that care for homeless babies and toddlers, including Genesis—A New Life, HomeStretch, My House, Tapestry Youth Ministries and The Drake House. HomeAid Atlanta is assisting or has assisted in building and renovating transitional housing facilities for these care providers.

With the fastest growing segment of the homeless population being women and children, the items collected were a welcome sight and came at a critical time when area housing facilities are at capacity, in need of additional support. For many of these facilities, the items collected will last almost a year.

To learn more about how you can get involved with next year's Essentials for Young Lives Drive, call 678-775-1401.