GPDC Staff and Ladders Program Volunteers Pack 9,000 Meals in Service Day at Atlanta Community Food Bank
GPDC Staff with Ladders Program Participants at the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB).
By: Avé Mullen
ATLANTA, GA – On Saturday, August 19, volunteers from the Georgia Public Defender Council (GPDC) and its Ladders Program participants made a significant impact at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Over just three hours, the team packaged 11,221 pounds of food, translating into 9,351 meals. This volunteer effort will aid individuals facing food insecurity in metro Atlanta and throughout north Georgia.
Social Service Specialists, Kenya Holmes, Candice Chavis, and Tia De Los Santos along with Ladders participants packaging goods for those in need.
Omotayo Alli, Executive Director of GPDC, actively participated, providing both moral and logistical support to all volunteers.
“This initiative offered Ladders participants a hands-on experience in community service, following our their recent workshop on the importance of teamwork,” Alli said.
Kenya Holmes, a Social Services Specialist with GPDC, said, "Our aim was not just to help the community but to also instill in our Ladders participants the attitude of giving back and the practical application of teamwork skills. We hope this experience continues to shape their interactions with their communities.”
Founded in 1979, the Atlanta Community Food Bank has created a network of more than 700 nonprofit partners who receive and distribute more than 8 million meals monthly. During the volunteer event, staff from the food bank educated Ladders participants on Georgia's current hunger statistics and provided training on packaging fresh and nutritious foods.
Jarelle “JT” Thompson, Client Services Specialist at GPDC, emphasized how the day's activities align with the Ladders Program’s broader mission.
"Food insecurity is a driving factor in incarceration rates. Through our participation in this event, we are actively working to combat that and fulfill our mission to restore families and reduce recidivism," Thompson said.
Upcoming Event:
The Ladders Program will host its next soft skills workshop on August 30, focusing on Communication skills.
The Ladders Program is currently accepting new participants until October 31st, 2023. For more information about the program and how to apply, please contact Jarelle Thompson, Client Services Specialist, at jthompson@gapubdef.org or call (404) 596-8920, ext: 8480.
The Georgia Public Defender Council
The Georgia Public Defender Council (GPDC) is an independent state agency within the Executive Branch of the State of Georgia responsible for representing approximately 85 percent of all criminally accused persons. GPDC public defenders work tirelessly to provide zealous, effective, and timely legal counsel to all in the care of GPDC. More at https://www.gapubdef.org.
The Georgia Public Defense Foundation
The Georgia Public Defense Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit that supports the efforts of Public Defenders across the state. It provides comprehensive social services and development programs to assist defendants exiting the justice system. Learn more about the Georgia Public Defense Foundation at https://www.gapdf.org/.