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2019 ANNUAL REPORT

2019 Annual Report | MEALS BY GRACE

Letter From Suellen Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” YOU are that change. You continually surround the hungry children and families in our community with love and support through Meals by Grace. In 2019, you helped provide 499,050 pounds of food to 38,711 local hungry children and families. All I can say is…thank you! The team at Meals by Grace sees the impact on a daily basis and the 19,368 volunteers see the impact on a weekly basis. This report will provide more details of last year’s impact - happening “by community, for community” to provide food, hope, and transformation to the community in need. But despite providing more meals and feeding record numbers of children and families, thousands in fact, the needs in our community have grown. We must move forward with a clear goal: solve hunger in our community and help families reach a level of self-sustainability. And these are the steps we are taking to make it happen... Step One- continue to grow financially. Last year, funding by hundreds of donors, businesses, and foundation grants provided 14% growth. This funding covered the current 2019 needs, but with the current 2020 surge in need from COVID-19 sitting at 40% increase over 2019 – more dollars are needed. Step Two- adequate food supply. It is becoming harder to maintain enough food supply with our limited space and funding. For the first time ever, someone had to be turned away who came to our pantry. I wept that night because someone needed food and there just wasn’t anything to give them. Seriously, the shelves were empty. Step Three - YOU – our secret weapon – the “by community” part. YOU provide the funds, the volunteer hearts and hands to distribute the food, and even the food when there are no other supplies to be had. You motivate us with a new passion (maybe even an obsession) daily to feed more hungry children and families. Together, everyone wins. Gratefully,

Suellen Suellen Daniels Executive Director Meals By Grace

VolunteerTransformation I was a high school freshman suffering from clinical depression, when my parents pushed me to serve at Meals by Grace. When I volunteered, I never thought I would be the one who was changed for the better. On my first day of serving, I met a team leader named Andrew. We had a lot in common, and I couldn’t believe I made a friend on my first day. It had been a while since I had an actual friend. I came back. The next time I volunteered with Meals by Grace, I got to make my first delivery to the Bales family. They had several children and were incredibly grateful when they met me at the door. Once I saw their smiling faces, I knew I had to continue volunteering. All I heard at school was “You are nothing.” All I heard at home was “You are terrible – change your behavior!” When I volunteered and helped others, I heard “Thank you,” and “I’m glad you’re here.” The more I volunteered, the more friends I made - more than I had at school or anywhere else. My life changed. During the summer after my freshman year, I volunteered for a medical brigade in the Dominican Republic and helped people who couldn’t get the medical care they needed. I became a student leader with this organization, and that’s what inspired me to go into medicine. I’m a different person now. I’ve gone from being too shy to talk to even one person, to standing in front of 600 people every week to speak! Serving others turned my life around. At Meals by Grace, we talk a lot about how we change the lives of the people we serve, but honestly, we also change the lives of the people who volunteer with us.

2019 Annual Report | MEALS BY GRACE

Receiving Family Mariah and her four children had their world turned upside down when the Forsyth County Sheriff advised her to leave their family home for her and her children’s safety. Prior to this, Mariah had left her abusive husband many times but always returned to care for her kids. This time, none of them could go back. Her kids, ages: 5, 6, 15, and 17, were now totally reliant on their mom’s resourcefulness and their community to provide the most basic resources for living. For two years, Mariah worked multiple jobs to try and provide. She worked long hours, 6 or 7 days a week and went into debt with her attorney trying to get her husband to pay child support. She impressed the sheriffs with her grit and determination - something most abuse victims lack. By the time a Forsyth County Schools social worker connected Mariah with Meals by Grace, they had moved into their fourth apartment due to wildly fluctuating income. Meals by Grace began to deliver a hot meal and a week of food to Mariah and her kids every Sunday. When Fill Ministries started our “Beds for Children”

project, the Bales became the recipients of our first beds. The bed assembly team showed up one Sunday afternoon to a dimly lit, almost-bare apartment -- with the exception of clothing tubs, one double mattress and thin foam camping mats. Mariah had kept the kids away from the apartment that day so that the beds would be a surprise. Once the four beds were set up, the five arrived with the kids all covering their eyes.

The reaction as they uncovered their eyes and saw their new furniture brought us all to tears. The youngest boy exclaimed, “This is the best day of my LIFE!” as the kids crawled into their beds and talked about how comfortable the mattresses were. They spent the rest of the afternoon hugging their teddy bears and exploring the blessing bags provided by a partner ministry. Sometimes we deliver a hot meal and give a hug, and the end of the story is unwritten. Other times, we have the privilege of being woven into a larger story like Mariah’s: a story of love, determination, and family sustainability

Pantry Volunteer Gail Mulligan has a twinkle in her smile and offers a warm welcome. “I am a hugger!” she warns, quickly moving to engage with her neighbor who is also shopping at the Meals by Grace Client-Choice Pantry. Gail and her husband of 41 years, Reverend Anthony Mulligan, raised a granddaughter and pastored New Life Baptist Church of Dawsonville while Gail worked full-time at the post office. When Anthony passed away in 2014, Gail’s life became significantly more complicated. Her family moved in with her to help her during the transition, and everyone pitched in to take care of the multiplied household. Even with everyone working, there were still times when the table was empty. Gail found Meals by Grace and after a year of visiting, she knew she wanted to be part of the team who makes the Client Choice Pantry hum. Gail is now both a client and a volunteer, helping out at least one day per week for the past two years. She shares her smile, hugs, and big heart with pantry visitors, encouraging them with her story and reminding them that they have someone in their corner.

2019 Annual Report | MEALS BY GRACE

Financial Overview INDIVIDUALS

467,254

PROGR

FOUNDATIONS

59%

125,687

16% TOTAL INCOME $

787,397

BUSINESSES

69,284

6% 4

CHURCHES $

32,873

FARM +IN-KIND

OTHER

42,915

49,384

553,2

2019 Annual Report | MEALS BY GRACE

PROGRAMS

GENERAL & ADMINISTRATION

553,239

87%

23,271

TOTAL EXPENSES $

630,706

FUNDRAISING $

54,196

MISSION To bring food, hope, & transformation to children and families in need, with resources from our community. VISION To collaboratively help our families do more than just survive, to help them THRIVE! PURPOSE To help children and families in need by providing interactive engagement with those in the community seeking to affect change and make a real difference effectively. 404.426.4055 suellen@mealsbygrace.org mealsbygrace.org 432 A Canton Road Cumming, GA 30040