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Community Assistance Center (CAC) Responds to Increasing Requests

for Help Due to COVID-19 Crisis

By Community Assistance Center (CAC) May 1, 2020

With support from donors, volunteers and the GA National Guard, Community Assistance Center (CAC) is responding to the coronavirus crisis by helping many more families and individuals than ever before. CAC has shifted its efforts to mission-critical services, providing food and financial assistance for housing, to help those who have been hit hardest during the crisis. CAC is receiving 4 times as many requests for help than on average following job losses due to the economic shutdown.

Overall Since the Coronavirus Shutdown Began  
So far Community Assistance Center (CAC) has helped 1,268 families, and about half of them have never come to Community Assistance Center (CAC) before.

Helping Families Stay in Their Homes  
Community Assistance Center (CAC) has received close to 1,000 applications for rent/financial assistance and so far given 193 households assistance totaling $191,000, compared to an average of $25,000 per month in 2019.  Avoiding evictions and preventing homelessness.

Preventing Hunger
The food pantry has provided approximately 150,000 pounds of food to 1,124 households. Of those, CAC is delivering food to more than 100 senior citizens and medically fragile individuals each week.

As the requests for assistance continue to come in, Community Assistance Center (CAC), with your support, will continue to help as many families as possible during this unprecedented time.



Community Gets Creative to Support CAC


We have so many caring and creative neighbors coming up with a variety of ways to raise money for CAC to help their fellow neighbors weather the COVID-19 crisis.  From "front porch photos" and Facebook Live concert, plus many more initiatives, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody is truly a community that cares.

  • Coming up in May, local resident Joy Sandoz plans to Run Across Dunwoody and Sandy Springs 10 Days - 10 Marathons! Make a pledge!  
  • Support The Rotary Club of Sandy Springs' team as they take part in a "Donation Derby," and join a Zoom Derby Party, Saturday, May 2! (Click the DONATE NOW button then below the dollar amount box type in Rotary Sandy Springs. Click the logo which will take you to the RCSS Team page where you will complete the donation process.)
  • Chalk Art by Hazel First-grader Hazel Halitsky is commissioning chalk art on driveways in her neighborhood, Deerfield East II in Sandy Springs, to benefit CAC! Hazel has completed 13 drawings so far and has raised more than $700!!! Her goal is $1,000 and with 10 more orders to go! She is very focused on feeding hungry children so she wanted to help the CAC food pantry where her father Jonathan volunteers.






Requests for Food Increase - Donations Welcome


Volunteers and GA National Guard members are working in the pantry receiving donations, packing bags, and distributing food. CAC is giving food to about 500 families a week! The pantry is low on important staples.  If you are able to donate food, CAC is in need of these items:

  • Canned Vegetables, corn, peas, green beans, mixed  
  • Canned Meat: chicken, ham, spam, beef stew, chili
  • Macaroni and Cheese
  • Canned Pasta Meals (Chef Boyardee etc.)
  • Soup
  • Cereal
  • Juice and Milk boxes for kids
  • Baking Mixes, muffins, biscuits, cake, etc.

Charitable contributions and food donations are distributed as fast as they come in to help individuals and families. Requests for assistance since the COVID-19 shutdown have increased to 4 times the average.  CAC is giving about double the amount of financial assistance than is typically distributed, with higher dollar amounts to more families so that they can pay rent and remain in their homes.

Food Pantry Hours for Donations & Distribution

9:30 am - 1:30 pm, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

CAC Food Pantry, 8607 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30350

Drives Organized by Neighborhoods, Congregations and Businesses


  • Mountaire Springs neighborhood food drives
  • Brookefarm neighborhood food and fundraising drive (organized by Dunwoody High School student Brooks Champey)

The Couchman-Noble Foundation is matching several neighborhoods and community organization online fundraising drives:

  • Huntcliff on the River, Leadership Sandy Springs, Sandy Springs Together, Winterthur Church Online Fundraising Drives
  • Misty Creek Community Church Church Online Fundraising Drive
  • Knights of Columbus Council 16513 and St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church Online Fundraising Drive
  • Kairos Church Church Online Fundraising Drive
  • Sandy Springs Christian Church Online Fundraising Drive
  • Dunwoody United Methodist Church Online Fundraising Drive
  • Graphic Packaging International Church Online Fundraising Drive

The community is also giving volunteer time in the food pantry and volunteering from home on the phones taking emergency financial assistance applications.  About 50 volunteers a week plus help from the GA National Guard are giving time at the CAC Food Pantry to help pack and distribute food to individuals and families seeking food assistance.

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020, as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. An opportunity for people around the world to stand together in unity, to use their individual power of generosity to remain connected and heal. People can show their generosity by helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or giving to causes, every act of generosity counts. Make a donation on #givingTuesday and be a part of our a world that cares.



Community Assistance Center (CAC) is the first line of response for people who need support to prevent homelessness and hunger in the communities of Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and the area of Doraville served by Dunwoody schools. CAC has modified services in response to COVID-19. CAC facilities are closed to the public except for food pantry distribution and donations. The food pantry has moved to a drive-through format and financial assistance services are being conducted by phone.  Adult Education classes have moved online. The thrift shop is closed and not receiving clothing donations until further notice. Other services have been suspended to focus on basic needs during the coronavirus pandemic.

For more information please visit the Community Assistance Center (CAC) on how to get assistance or how to help.

The Community Assistance Center (CAC) is located at can be reached at (770) 552-4889 or by Email.  Their Helpline is (770) 552-4015.  Follow the Community Assistance Center (CAC) on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.

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