SPOIL-A-PERSON, INCORPORATED
As we are in transition, Spoil-A-Person will operate a weekly meal program every Sunday in Atlanta. Spoil-A-Person began just in November 2006 as one woman’s response to the hunger witnessed among the poor and homeless of Atlanta. As the owner of Spoil-A-Patient, Incorporated, “The gift of giving should not only be during the holidays. It should be everyday." My inspiration comes from the words of prominent individuals: “Living is the proof that you've conquered greed." I cannot express enough to you the power of giving. All throughout the Bible, in order to restore order in someone's life an offering is brought to priests and places of worship. Abraham was even going to sacrifice his beloved son in order to get God's approval. Giving is the only way to prove that you have faith. God is a giver. Have faith in Giving. Spoil-A-Person’s goal is to serve more than 500 meals each week to homeless, disabled, elderly and low-income adults and children.
Realizing that it would take a greater commitment to address the needs of the homeless, Spoil-A-Person was founded as a nonprofit organization just in November 2006. By the end of the year, we should begin serving meals each Sunday in Atlanta. Through word of mouth, Spoil-A-Person will rapidly gain volunteers and financial support and as a result, we will be proud not to miss a weekly meal since our founding.
While the meal program will be well received among our hungry clients, we wonder if there will be more we could do to increase food security in the area. In November 2006, we began recruiting volunteers from among the homeless to engage in trash pickup in our serving communities in exchange for extra meals and ten dollars in grocery store or fast food vouchers. Each participant will be given two large garbage bags to fill with trash collected in our target areas and returned for $100 in food and necessity vouchers (gift cards) in addition to a hot meal. (We pray that this will increase in the near future; yet, this is a great start.)
This will be called our "Chow Hub" program that will strive to help approximately 50 individuals earn meals and food vouchers each week. We also provide them the resources necessary to get the job done - supplies, bus tokens for transportation and phone cards for communication. Most of these individuals are without stable shelter, are actively battling substance abuse or other handicaps, and are not ready for regular employment. Nevertheless, our hope is to gain their trust over time so that we can assist them with their needs, slowly build their confidence so they may contribute to the community and prepare them for a transition back into society.
Once individuals participate in Chow Hub for two months and demonstrate reliable work habits, these men & women can join a team of workers that clean local shopping centers and other areas in Atlanta during the week in exchange for additional food vouchers. The long-term goal is to find outside job opportunities in the business community for our Chow Hub graduates. Chow Hub involvement, which can last from a few weeks to a few months depending upon the individual, gives those participating the confidence they so desperately need to again become productive members of society and leave life on the streets.
Spoil-A-Person, Incorporatedwill serve the same meal at the same location and at the same time. Moreover, that is whatSpoil-A-Personis! Please consider getting involved in this unique and personal response to hunger in Atlanta. You too can make a difference.
"Consistency breeds trust, trust breeds confidence."