ATLANTA (November 20, 2020) – The Cobb Community Foundation awarded $27,000 in grants on Thursday, wrapping up the final act of Operation Meal Plan.  The initiative began in March of this year with the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and Cobb Community Foundation (“CCF”) partnering to provide food to those in need, help local restaurants keep their workers employed, and provide a vehicle for citizens to help each other.

“This project was just one great example of how Cobb’s business and non-profit communities have pulled together to get help to those who need it,” said Sharon Mason, president and CEO of the Cobb Chamber. “Our goal was to find a way to keep our restaurants afloat while providing a valuable resource to our non-profits who are serving people in need. Operation Meal Plan was a way to link these entities together.”

In its first couple of months, Operation Meal Plan received $89,000 in community contributions, funding 13,850 meals delivered by 22 different restaurants and caterers to 30 different non-profit organizations around Cobb, all of which serve meals as part of their mission.

At the end of May, Operation Meal Plan went on hiatus when Cobb’s board of commissioners allocated $1 million from its CARES Act dollars for the Cobb County Food Grant, providing an alternative source for funding of these meals for the non-profits. Remaining dollars, including a half of a $50,000 total contribution to CCF from Lockheed-Martin, would be held for distribution in the fall.

The grants, payable to six different organizations in increments of $3,000 to $6,000, will be used to purchase prepared meals from Cobb restaurants or catering businesses.  “Ten months in to this pandemic, non-profit staff members and volunteers desperately need a break,” said Shari Martin, CCF’s president and CEO.  “In many cases, they have been serving significantly more clients, and in all cases, they are doing so with far fewer people. Not only are these grants going to provide some financial relief, they are also going to provide some physical and emotional relief.”

The six organizations selected all provide prepared meals as part of their mission. 

Center for Children and Young Adults (CCYA) – $6,000

The Center for Children & Young Adults provides a home for youth who have been abused, neglected, and/or abandoned by their caregivers. The CCYA campus offers four residential programs in a dormitory setting for up to 42 youth at one time, all of whom need shelter, treatment, care and guidance, as well as breakfast and dinner during the week and 3 meals a day on the weekend.

LiveSAFE Resources - $4,500

Among other services that increase the awareness and reduce the occurrence of domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse, liveSAFE Resources provides immediate and transitional housing to victims and their children.  The funds received will help provide meals for the 40 adults and children in transitional housing and the 30 currently residing in their shelter.

The Table on Delk – $3,500

The Table on Delk provides a safe place for those who are currently, or at risk of, being sexually exploited to have a meal and get connected to resources that they might not know about.  The organization provides hot meals to 25 to 30 guests every Tuesday and Wednesday and to 35 to 50 guests every Saturday.  The money that would otherwise be expended on meals will allow Table on Delk to purchase warm clothes and meet other basic needs.

Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health – $3,500

Devereux supports children and adolescents with emotional and behavior disorders, providing multiple residential options for youth facing emotional, behavioral and intellectual/developmental challenges.  Twice a month, 180 residents celebrate their accomplishments with a special meal and reward party which this grant will help to fund.   

The Zone – $6,500

The Zone’s focus is enhancing the quantity and quality of support available to people seeking and experiencing long-term recovery from addiction.  The Zone remains open on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s and feeds over 400 people on each day. 

The Extension – $3,000

The Extension is a comprehensive, residential recovery program serving homeless men and women who suffer from addiction to alcohol or drugs.  Meals have historically been prepared by volunteers who cook onsite at the facility.  Since COVID, although meals can be dropped off, there are many evenings when meals must be purchased for the 57 men in residence. 

For additional information, contact Shari Martin at 770-859-2366 or email shari@cobbfoundation.org.

 
About Cobb Community Foundation
In 1993, a group of Cobb business leaders recognized the community’s need for a vehicle to invest in its future and created Cobb Community Foundation. We are a 501(c)(3) organization that uses the power of charitable giving and our role as community catalyst and convener to improve the quality of life in Cobb County and beyond. We are living our mission every day by inspiring charitable giving, building resources for the future and connecting donors who care with causes that matter. To learn more visit www.cobbfoundation.org.