It has been a long time since I stood here. I was 21 and was about to leave after two years as a part of the staff here – from what Father Ford called my other home.

He asked me to come up and say a few words at the service. I remember standing in my choir robe and didn’t know what to say, but then again it was impossible to say no to Father Ford. So I cried. And said there was a lot I wanted to say to you, but it was too difficult at that time.

What I did want to say back then was: Thank you. Thank you for letting me into your community of love, prayer, work, laughs, sadness and more love. Love of your family, friends, neighbors, and kids like me that came to you to achieve some kind of new knowledge of the world that we couldn’t get through books in school. To grow up in a new setting. I learned a lot about love back then 30 years ago.

I wanted to say thank you for teaching me some of the values in life that I wouldn’t be able to comprehend without being a part of your community. The value of sharing. The value of giving. The value of welcoming your neighbor to your house or your front porch. The true meaning of loving your neighbor. I wanted to say that I was going to miss you. That I was so sorry to leave. But that I had to, to be able to go on in a life far, far away. I had to go back to my family and a girl I loved.

You must think it is kind of odd to say this because I didn't hold on to you through letters, phone calls, or whatever we used to get in touch with back then. It has been a mixture of being afraid to miss you too much, getting into a new life again, and in the end feeling ashamed for taking so long to reach out. I am truly sorry for that. Some I have reached on Facebook, and lately, we have communicated a lot to be able to meet this weekend. I hope to keep in touch more now.

Now I am here. With my son, who has the same hair and beard as I had 30 years ago. Whom I am so happy to travel with and share some experiences with. Whom I have wanted for a long time to show what I have been talking about when I said I lived here for two years. Because those two years have formed my life and my life choices more than I knew when I left you.

First of all, I had to change all my political views. I had seen that what may be an American Dream for many, is not to the benefit for all. There has to be some kind of support for a lot of people to be able to be a part of the progress in the country.

Secondly, I had to open my doors to whoever needed my help. Even though I was not able to help, I could do something for them helping their way through.

Finally, I now know the value of being there. Facing whatever is coming toward you even though it scares you. Embracing the love you can get, and give, to your loved ones. But most of all being there even though you don’t know if anybody needs you. Care for them anyhow. Care for the ones that you don’t even relate to, but want to create a better life for. That is some of the very important impacts it had on me staying at Emmaus House. That is something I can never repay you for. That is something that I am truly grateful for.

So, thank you for having me here. Thank you for letting me grow up a little here. Thank you for letting me get to know your children. Thank you for you.

– Anders Wang Maarbjerg

We are looking to expand our food pantry services and need volunteers to assist on Saturday mornings. If you are interested in volunteering in our client choice food pantry, we will hold a training day on February 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

We need courteous, skilled, and devoted volunteers to help our neighbors navigate our food pantry services and provide helpful support. Each volunteer will receive training and will be expected to maintain a schedule of at least two Saturdays per month.

Possible duties of a volunteer include the following:

• Answer phones and assist clients as they check in
• Assist with logging information into the computer database management system Oasis
• Clean pantry to create a safe, welcoming space
• Prep bags/boxes for clients to place selected food
• Welcome clients to the pantry and provide excellent customer service
• Guide clients through the choice pantry
• Assist in restocking shelves and keeping food organized

If you are interested please contact Adam Seeley at 404-525- 5948 or send an email to
adamseeley@emmaushouse.org.

The Stave Room

This year’s Gala recognizes our stellar Emmaus House program participants and volunteers. Guests will also have a unique opportunity to ‘Fund-a-Need’ during our live auction.

Save the date! The 2018 Emmaus House Gala will take place on April 29 at the Stave Room from 6-8 p.m. A special reception will precede the event at 5 p.m.

More details to follow. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Take a look at highlights from the 2017 “Forward from 50” Gala held May 7 at the Carter Center. 

Each month, a member of our staff will share a look into their programs and experiences working at Emmaus House. This month's entry of ‘Staff Musings’ comes from our Case Manager, Tanisha Corporal. 

As a case manager at Emmaus House, I lead the Peoplestown Family Initiative (PFI). I walk alongside families as they work to improve their lives. PFI promotes family economic success through supportive services and intensive case management. Each week, I witness the pride and confidence that develops as our families achieve the goals they have set.

In 2017, our partnerships with local agencies helped us provide financial and educational support to 25 low-income families seeking self-sufficiency. We coordinated services related to employment, housing, literacy, education, and other key indicators of stability for our program participants.

I am especially proud of the PFI program and the work that Emmaus House does to help families thrive. Personally, I live in a neighboring community and have some knowledge of the challenges experienced by residents of under-resourced urban areas. From access to quality child care to workforce readiness, Emmaus House connects families to the resources they need.

In February, we will host our program kick-off, where participants will receive updates about the program, have an opportunity to evaluate their individual progress and refine their plans. I could not be more thrilled!

In some ways, you could say that I am an intentional neighbor – living in and serving in my community. I look forward to expanding our program to reach more families in the upcoming program year.

Tanisha Corporal
Case Manager

We are looking to expand our food pantry services and need volunteers to assist on Saturday mornings. We need courteous, skilled, and devoted volunteers to help our neighbors navigate our food pantry services and provide helpful support. Each volunteer will receive training and will be expected to maintain a schedule of at least two Saturdays per month.

Possible duties of a volunteer include the following:

• Answer phones and assist clients as they check in
• Assist with logging information into the computer database management system Oasis
• Clean pantry to create a safe, welcoming space
• Prep bags/boxes for clients to place selected food
• Welcome clients to the pantry and provide excellent customer service
• Guide clients through the choice pantry
• Assist in restocking shelves and keeping food organized

If you are interested please contact Adam Seeley at 404-525- 5948 or send an email to
adamseeley@emmaushouse.org.

Last week, Jennifer Grove of WSB-TV's People 2 People program visited Emmaus House! Her tour included Youth on the Move, a look at our food pantry and a chat with our very own YOTM Program Manager Rakia Reeves and Executive Director Greg Cole. Jennifer even got a close up of the Capoeira class, a Brazilian martial art form that students have been studying this fall.

People 2 People chronicles events and newsmakers in North Georgia. Fred Blankenship and Linda Stouffer anchor the half-hour program which is followed by a special "One on One" segment with community figures. Their mission is to help improve the quality of life for viewers in Georgia and to raise awareness of critical issues affecting our community.

Tune in to Channel 2 at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 17 to catch a glimpse of the Emmaus House spotlight.

At Emmaus House, we strive to help people overcome obstacles. To that end, we have the privilege of working with families like Janel’s. Like many of us, Janel wants nothing more than to create opportunities for her children, Maya and Malik.

Janel’s family learned about Emmaus House’s CDF Freedom Schools program in 2016 when Maya spent her summer reading with us. The following summer, Malik joined his older sister. Janel immediately noticed changes in her children. Maya became more confident and excited about reading, and Malik began excelling in school.

Inspired by the growth in her children, Janel began attending Parent Café, a new program that aims to help parents learn about child development and practice stress management techniques. Janel says Emmaus House programs like this make a difference. It’s easier to help Malik with his behavior, and she’s more comfortable helping with homework. Attending Parent Café also ignited a passion for leading in Janel. Thanks to a grant from the United Way called Fostering Family Leaders, she’s learning new leadership skills that work at home and help support other Peoplestown parents.

In the fall of 2017, Janel became Emmaus House’s first parent instructor at Parent Café. Other parents who attend say that Janel gets them and where they are coming from. She offers understanding when it comes to the challenges of tackling homework, managing their children’s behaviors, or balancing their personal educational goals. Her rapport with fellow parents gives them a level of comfort that allows them to be vulnerable and, in turn, they can offer one another deeper support.

At Emmaus House, we’ve seen the transformational benefits that can occur when we work with the entire family — providing support and learning opportunities for children and parents. We are encouraged by research that shows this type of two-generation approach can help to break the cycle of poverty in families and our community.

When you give to Emmaus House, you bless our neighbors like Janel with tools to strengthen their families and our community. Your support enables us to work alongside our neighbors every day, and provide interventions to serve them on their path to a better life. Thank you for remembering Emmaus House this holiday season. We wish you and yours the very best.

The holidays are a special time of year where we celebrate with our community in Peoplestown. We invite you to save the date for our upcoming events that spread holiday cheer throughout our neighborhood this season. We rely on the support of volunteers and supporters like you to make our holiday programs a success. View our 2017 Holiday Guide to learn how you can get involved. 

Secret Santa Shop

This is an activity of the Emmaus House Chapel. Children buy gifts for their parents, grandparents, and family members. Volunteers help shop and wrap gifts on Sunday, December 17 after the 10:30 a.m. service. 

Peoplestown 555 Senior Luncheon

Our 555 Seniors group celebrates Christmas with lunch, music, and a visit from Santa and his elves on Tuesday, December 19, noon at the Rick McDevitt Youth Center.

Grandparents Party

Community grandparents raising grandchildren are invited to take the night off and join us for dinner, singing, and a raffle on Tuesday, December 19, 7-9 p.m. at the Barack and Michelle Obama Academy. 

Children’s Christmas Festival

Emmaus House believes Christmas is an opportunity to bring the community of Peoplestown together. The Christmas Eve Festival offers residents entertainment, food, fun, and a visit with Santa and his helpers for more than 800 children and their parents on Saturday, December 23, 8-11 a.m.

As a reminder, Emmaus House, including the Muriel Lokey Help Center, will be closed from December 24 – January 1, 2018. We will reopen on January 2, 2018.

Each month, a member of our staff will share a look into their programs and experiences working at Emmaus House. This month's entry of ‘Staff Musings’ comes from our Family Engagement Manager, Tavon Betts. 

Education programs at Emmaus House have always focused on children and youth. Research suggests that families who are engaged in their child’s learning see not only an improvement in academic achievement but also a reduction in school absences. And parents build confidence as advocates for their children.

In 2016, Emmaus House parents expressed the desire for more experiences that help them support their child's academic success, as well as their own educational goals. Every day, I get to work with parents who want nothing more than to help their children and family succeed. Through Parent Power and Parent Café, we work to make that a reality.

Parent Café is a program that brings parents together in peer-to-peer conversation around five research-based, protective factors that mitigate the negative impact of generational poverty. This fall, we have seen parents become more confident in managing stressors at home and grow more connected with parents facing similar challenges. Our support doesn’t stop there. Parent Power uses a two-generation approach by increasing literacy skills of parents so they are more confident helping their children with reading and homework.

Here at Emmaus House, we are committed to meeting the needs of the children and families we serve, and I am so grateful to be a part of that.

Tavon Betts
Family Engagement Manager