In the tradition of an old-fashioned barn raising, more than a dozen City of College Park employees and residents came out after work and over the weekend to volunteer and support the Alexandria Cares Unit (ACU) leadership team’s kick-off for the “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” Campaign. The campaign was born out of a critical need to establish a Basic Needs Fund to help the neediest Alexandria Landing families with utility and rent assistance. City of College Park Ward 3 Councilman Tracey Wyatt donated 100 pairs of brand new shoes to make the fundraiser possible. Merri Sheffield, a College Park resident, provided marketing, PR and event coordination support. The $10 shoe sale fundraiser was an astounding success with the group meeting its $1,000 goal and a family’s electric power was restored within two days of the event. Just in time for Easter, the March 22-24, 2013 event was held in front of the Old National Discount Mall.
This is how a small neighborhood group in College Park, GA is preparing to stand out against poverty. How will you prepare to stand out?
Special thanks to Mary Wilson, Community Engagement Lead for the College Park Opportunity Zone (East Point Community Action Team (EP-CAT)), for sharing such a great success story.
