Monday, March 29, 2010

2nd Mobile Food Drive: Another Overwhelming Success!






As you can see from the photos, Friday's Mobile Food Drive was unbelievable! Friends, family members, and neighbors got in on the excitement and altogether, we were able to donate 710 items in one day! There were about 300 more items collected compared to February's drive, which proves that word is spreading about "Clipping for a Cause!" Thanks to everyone who made it possible...especially my cousins Kristy and Dylan. They are determined to help by counting, sorting, and delivering each time we have a mobile drive. I don't know what I would do without them! This month's donations were divided between 3 different organizations: the Lawrenceville Co-op, Family Promise of Gwinnett, and the Quinn House. I haven't written much about the Quinn House so I thought I would add a little blurb about their purpose. They have served Gwinnett for 25 years and I really think it would be worthwhile for you to read about what they do! I will be posting information on the next Mobile Drive for April soon! Please let me know if you are interested in donating!

The Quinn House:
Located in downtown Lawrenceville, GA for the past 25 years, The Quinn House was founded by John and Carrol Quinn because they recognized a great need in Gwinnett County for assisting individuals and families on all levels. They began by bringing homeless families into their own home and as their outreach grew, so did The Quinn House. Over those 25 years, The Quinn House is now a multi-task, non-profit Outreach Operation that assists hundreds of people in Gwinnett County and in other areas of the State.
Our Residential Program not only provides housing for the homeless, but also offers a 40-day Drug and Alcohol Program to help individuals get back on their feet and re-enter society in a stable and productive way. This Program is free and offers our residents an opportunity to develop a new way of thinking and developing self-esteem, along with decision-making that can lead them to steady employment and independent living again. We have approximately an 80% success rate with our residents for completion of the 40-day Program. At this time there are three homes available for housing of men and women, in addition to women with children in Gwinnett County. While we do not provide housing at our location in South Central Georgia (Washington County), at this time we do provide food, clothing, and furniture to those in need from our thrift store located there.


The Quinn House is a licensed Food Bank in Georgia that operates out of our downtown Lawrenceville location. From this location we are able to assist individuals and families with food boxes. And we also have a long standing Senior Food Box Program that helps assist our local Senior citizens once a month with food to supplement their limited incomes. We are partners with sponsors such as Kroger, Publix, Kraft Foods, and Pepperidge Farms who enable us to feed not just the people in our county but also with other smaller pantries that serve families in North and South Central Georgia. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays we are also supplying boxes for Family Holiday meals. As are all of our services, these food boxes are distributed free of charge.

The Quinn House operates thrift stores that help people in need with donated clothes, furniture, appliances and household items. Our dedicated drivers spend many hours traveling around Gwinnett County to pick up donated items for these stores. Based upon their situation and need, donated items are furnished to these families and individuals. Also, residents who have completed our Program mentioned above are furnished with needed items to establish their new homes when they leave. Profits generated through these thrift stores are used to support our day to day operations (rent, utilities, gasoline, etc.).

As part of our on-going outreach during the year, The Quinn House enjoys special opportunities to assist families in addition to children. In springtime, we distribute Easter Baskets to children in need, along with a special group of seniors in our area who are excited to wake up Easter Morning also and find a special basket on their doorstep. Prior to the start of the new School Year, we also provide new school book bags to children who have registered with our School Book Bag Program. Filled with donated school supplies, these book bags get the children off to a positive start for the new School Year. In addition, our Annual Children's Christmas Gift Program is still a big hit here. For many years, we have been able to provide Christmas gifts to over 300 children of needy families on Christmas morning. With the population growth of Gwinnett County, this Program continues to grow every year. These special Holiday Programs are possible because of the generous people in Gwinnett County who call to donate items for these Programs

5 comments:

  1. Heather - that's so awesome!! Great job!!

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  2. Thanks yall! I appreciate it! It's been so much fun!!

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  3. That is amazing! You should be so proud of yourself and everyone that has helped you!

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  4. OK!! Just noticed the shirt on one of the fellas! I LOVE it!

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