MUST Ministries Sees Unprecedented Growth & Successes

Nearly a decade ago, Carol Dodson was sleeping on the floor of an overcrowded women’s shelter in Atlanta when staff from MUST Ministries approached her and asked if they could help. Carol suffered from debilitating medical issues that kept her from holding down a job and put her in a place she never imagined she would behomeless and hopeless.

MUST gave her that home and that hope when she was given a safe roof over head and a life-changing surgery. Today, Carol has held a steady job for more than four years, wrote a children’s book, got married and, after five years in MUST’s Permanent Supportive Housing Program, Carol recently graduated and moved into her own home with her new husband.

There have been thousands of Carols in MUST’s 51 years of serving our neighbors in need, and while the capacity to help has grown, the need has become even greater.

In 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic, MUST was serving a record 33,000 people a year and providing about 1.5 tons of food a day. Over the past 12 months - almost four years later - MUST is serving more than 70,000 people a year across its services and providing 4.5 tons of food a day to hungry families and children. The need for food, shelter, better jobs, clothing and medical care has reached unprecedented heights. People with jobs can’t find affordable housing and are sleeping in their cars. Inflation has made grocery bills impossible to pay. Grandmothers are having to make the decision to keep the lights on in their homes or pay for their daily medications.

Recognizing the need is not enough. To answer the call, MUST has developed new and innovative ways to reach people with the resources they need to have stable, healthy lives. The MUST Hope House, a 44,000 square-foot shelter that serves more than twice as many families as MUST’s previous shelter, opened its doors in May 2022 and stays at capacity. The MUST Mobile Pantry provides healthy foods and hygiene kits to more than 20,000 people living in food deserts across 10 metro Atlanta counties, reaching people right in their own neighborhoods. The dynamic Workforce Development program provides jobs assistance for those looking for better jobs and better lives for their families, all while putting nearly $25 million back into our local economies.

“Never in MUST Ministries’ 51 years have we received and served more neighbors in need nor partnered with more organizations than today,” said MUST President & CEO Dr. Ike Reighard. “The need is great, but so is our ability to serve that need. Hearing the inspiring stories from those we have helped keeps all of us motivated to do more, help more and think outside of the box on how we can bring the community together to help so many of our neighbors in need find a pathway out of poverty.”

In addition to its service programs, MUST’s Summer Lunch program is still going strong after 28 years and, this summer, provided nearly 6,000 children more than half a million meals. For nearly all of these children, the meals they receive at school are the only sources of food they get each day so the Summer Lunch program fills that gap and their bellies during the summer months. The Toy Shops program during Christmas time provides 12 presents under the tree for every child in need. The annual Gobble Jog race held on Thanksgiving morning in the Marietta Square is now host to more than 10,000 runners and provides critical funding to MUST’s programs and services.

But the challenges are great. Because of the rising costs of goods and services, every nonprofit in the country is seeing a drop in donations while the need for those donations continues to grow tremendously. To meet these needs, MUST continues to partner with and help other nonprofits in the metro Atlanta area. Collectively, we can all do more together. If you would like to get involved with MUST and see how you can help, visit mustministries. org. With the help of volunteers, donations, service projects and support, we can all help the Carols in our community find hope, healing and better lives.

Fall Break Destinations

The kids are back to school so now is the perfect time to make plans for fall break. If you don’t already have your fall break plans booked, now is the time!

Here are some ideas to get you started:

The Mountains Are Calling – If getting back to nature, having a low-key vacation, and enjoying some beautiful vistas is your thing, rent a cabin or stay at a beautiful, rustic resort in North Georgia or the Blue Ridge or Smoky Mountains. Helen, Ellijay, and Blue Ridge have tons of cabins and resort options within a two-hour drive of Atlanta. If you want to travel a little farther, Chattanooga and Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge offer lots of family-friendly attractions including Rock City, Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain, and Dollywood. And in North Carolina there are amazing resorts in Asheville, Highlands, and Lake Lure.

Say Hello to The Sunshine State – Florida has so many great vacation options for all types of travelers. Whether it’s a great beach, nightlife, or great family fun there is something for everyone. The 30A beaches – including Destin, Seaside, Santa Rosa Beach, and Rosemary Beach – are popular destinations and are all easily drivable from Atlanta. If you’re looking for something livelier for an adults-only getaway, Miami or Key West are great choices. Both are a short direct flight from Atlanta. And don’t forget the theme parks! Whether it’s Disney World, Universal Orlando, Sea World, Busch Gardens, or Legoland there are a wide variety of theme parks to choose from. Each one has a different appeal so choose the one that best suits your family.

Bon Voyage – There are tons of cruise lines with sailings of various lengths and itineraries that depart nearby in Florida. Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami are the most popular ports and all are easily reachable by car or plane. Popular cruise destinations include the Bahamas and various islands throughout the Caribbean with cruises varying anywhere from 3-nights to 11-nights. Some cruise lines offer great deals in the fall, especially during the time of Cobb County fall break.

Tropical Escapes – Whether you’re looking to stay at an all-inclusive resort, a small boutique hotel, or a villa rental, there are fabulous destinations throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. Some of the most popular destinations – most of which have direct flights to and from Atlanta – are Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, Aruba, Grand Cayman, the Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico.

Since fall break travel dates occur during hurricane season, I strongly advise purchasing travel insurance for all vacations outside of the United States to ensure that your vacation is properly covered.

And whether you are making travel plans on your own or with a travel agent make sure you are aware of what is and what is not included in the price of your vacation. Some additional costs to account for are gratuities, airline baggage fees, resort fees, parking fees, and more when calculating the price of a vacation.

Remember that popular destinations book up early and some destinations, such as Disney World, require advanced planning so make sure to make your fall break plans as soon as possible!

S H O P P I N G , D I N I N G , E V E N T S + M O R E !

W E E K L Y E V E N T S

U P C O M I N G S I G N A T U R E E V E N T S

S u m m e r S p l a s h F o a m a l i c i o u s P a r t y

T o u c h - A - T r u c k | M i l e s t o M a r g a r i t a s 5 K

V I S I T : A V E N U E W E S T C O B B . C O M / E V E N T S F O R D E T A I L S s u b j e c t t o c h a n g e , w e a t h e r p e r m i t t i n g

By Evie Love

fter counting down the days, pushing through exams, celebrating my best friends and my birthday, summer was finally here! The time of the year that everyone looks forward to! It’s a break from school, and a time to relax and hangout with your friends and family.

I had so many plans and ideas to do over the much needed vacation. And I was having quite a fun time until the dreaded day came… summer work was posted. Two weeks of summer had already flown by, how was that possible?!?! 20 math assignments and two books with questions were staring me right in the face. Then, around the time that I completed the math assignments another email came out from school explaining that the 2023-2024 school year is right around the corner. Only four weeks of summer remained. So then in between volleyball workouts, Braves games, hanging with friends and family, I, slowly, worked my way through the books and questions.

Then, another email came out about the courses I will be taking and the books I will need to purchase for the year, two weeks of summer left. We went to New York to see my grandparents and then we got back with only a few days left of summer. Next thing I know my volleyball tryouts for my school came and went. Two days of summer remained and then, in the blink of my eye, it was the first day of school and summer was gone. My one question was, where did it go and how did it possibly go so fast? We did many things, but I still felt like we had more to do. Every year, it seems like summer becomes shorter and shorter and the school year is longer and longer. And although I love seeing my friends and the excitement of beginning a new school year, it always seems like there should be a few more days of summer vacation. You know what they say “time flies when you are having fun!”

But there is nothing we can do and the beginning of the school year is here! Instead of looking at the negatives that school brings like waking up at six am, or studying for a test that we have no interest in, I challenge everyone to wake up grateful that we have a new day filled with millions of possibilities. Every morning, think of a way that you can impact another person’s life in a positive way. Bringing joy to others is the first way to bring joy into your life.

Have an amazing start to the school year and remember to wake up grateful for another day to put your best foot forward. The only person you’re competing with is the person you were yesterday.

Evie is a Cobb County high school student who plays varsity volleyball & soccer. She has achieved heads honor roll and is an Ambassador for her school. She is kind, funny, determined, hardworking and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Sandra Tulane University

“Walker fostered my love of learning by teaching me how to speak up for myself and establish lasting relationships with my teachers and peers.”

Nikhil Univ. of Pennsylvania

“The most important things that I have learned at Walker are the importance of challenging yourself and pushing yourself to be the best that you can be.”

Andrew University of Georgia

“Walker made it easy for me to introduce myself to a variety of activities, clubs, sports and people.”

WHAT’S NEXT!!!

There are many aspects about home hunting that can be exciting, but there’s nothing quite as exciting as when the sellers accept your offer. Maybe you were in a bidding war, maybe you were the first offer, but regardless of your journey, it doesn’t end here. When the seller accepts your offer there are a few more steps you need to take.

Understanding Earnest Money

When your offer is accepted you will be asked to put down earnest money. Earnest money is a show of good faith from the buyer, and depending on where you live it can range from 1-3% of the offer. Make sure to talk to your real estate agent and learn the conditions of the earnest money. Some contracts allow for the home buyer to get the money back if the deal falls through, but it depends on the circumstances of the situation.

Apply For Your Loan

While your loan company may have given you preapproval, you can only apply for the loan after the binding agreement has been signed by both parties. Loan companies may have different rates and options, so make sure you meet with a few lenders. It’s important to take the time and analyze the costs- can you afford the monthly payments on top of the utilities and the possible HOA? Taking the time to check your finances now will save you major headaches in the future.

Home Inspection and Appraisal

If you are using a loan to purchase the house, your lender will require a home appraisal. The appraiser will price the home according to its features, condition, and recent sales in the area. The outcome of the appraisal may change how much the lender is willing to loan, which can lead to either renegotiation of the home price, or even the end of the deal. The next important step is to invest the money in ordering a home inspection. The home inspector’s job is to inform you if there is anything not working or unsafe in the home and to provide estimated costs to fix these issues. This step give will you a better understanding of the home’s condition and may help you and your real estate agent negotiate a lower cost in the home.

Homeowners Insurance

Homes are the biggest investments people make, so it’s important to protect your investment with the right type of home insurance. Some insurance policies can cover AC systems freezing, floods, fire, and more. Make sure to take the time to look into the policies and find one that best matches your concerns.

Final Walk-through

The final walkthrough is a process that happens a day or two before your closing date. This is the time to see if there is any new damage, and the agreed conditions of the home are in order. Now is the time to address any new concerns, because after you sign the deal at closing all home issues will be your responsibility once the closing is finished. This is also an important time to contact the proper resources and ensure that utilities will be turned on, starting the day of closing.

The day is finally here, so make sure to bring all required documents to ensure a seamless settlement. You’ll need to bring the funds for the home, and possibly two forms of government-issued identification to complete the process. This is the time when closing costs will be paid, the agreement with the lender will be paid, and the most exciting part is that you will get the keys to your new home.

While this list may seem a bit daunting, your real estate agent will be by your side the entire time to guide you. They are a valuable source of information, so remember to ask questions! Staying on top of each step will reduce stress and possible hiccups, and you’ll find yourself a homeowner in no time!

Deborah Ratchford Keller Williams Realty Cityside 678-570-4779 / Debratchford@kw.com