Here at Georgia Tech, it can feel like we live in a bubble. Due to the Georgia Tech Police Department and our enclosed campus design, we rarely see in-need neighbors on our campus streets. That’s why it can be easy for us students to forget one of the most dire issues of our city — for nearly one in every five Atlantans lives below the poverty line, according to the United States Census Bureau.
While many argue that the welfare responsibility for these Georgians should fall solely on our government or the many corporations filling our city skyline, the sad reality is that it doesn’t. This responsibility extends beyond bureaucracy and boardrooms; it reaches into the hearts and hands of every able citizen.
As students in the heart of the city, we are reminded of this responsibility each time we pass by those Georgia Tech signs that border our campus. These feelings tug at our hearts, telling us that we SHOULD be doing something to help, but understandably, as young adults working around busy schedules and budgets, it’s difficult to know just HOW we best can.
Thankfully, we live in a city of countless helpers who have dedicated their lives to creating established nonprofits and aid programs that help protect our most vulnerable neighbors. The majority of these organizations rely solely on nearby volunteers and donations to stay running, so they have created organized and consistent outlets that make it easy for able residents to get involved.
However, in a huge city with hundreds of poverty aid nonprofits, deciding where, when, and how you can best give back can feel overwhelming.
So, let’s break it down.
First, decide what kind of volunteer service makes the most sense for you. Whether it is working hands-on at shelters, contributing aid resources from a distance, or getting involved on your school campus, there are plenty of routes to impact. Thinking about which method makes the most sense for you and implementing it into your regular schedule is an easy way to stay consistent in giving back.
Next, look into umbrella organizations that work with a variety of nonprofits or shelters nearby. Networks like Hands On Atlanta, Volunteer Match, and Atlanta Mission have websites that make it easy to sort through all types of volunteer opportunities in one place.
Once you create a volunteer profile in these systems, you will see calendars filled with everyday opportunities in the area. Scheduling service events weeks out and with groups of friends like this can make contributing routine and something to look forward to.
If you’re interested in donating your time, consider volunteering at one of Atlanta’s many homeless shelters or kitchens. These organizations rely on volunteers daily to help cook meals, provide services, sort donations, and assist at events for temporary residents. Visit the websites of the below organizations and register as a volunteer so you can be notified of opportunities in the future.
If you want to donate resources, consider a closet (or home) clean-out! Sort through all your clothes, shoes, school supplies, home goods, and pantry food, and consider dropping off unneeded items at one of the many homeless-specific thrift stores or drop-off centers in the city. The below organizations are in constant need of all types of items, particularly new undergarments, shoes, and layered clothing for winter weather.
If you want to donate your knowledge or skills, look into working with one of the organizations nearby that provide educational and vocational services to in-need Atlantans. The knowledge and skills you possess as a Tech student may be life-changing for individuals who have yet to have the privilege of attaining a higher education or working privately with a tutor. The below organizations are constantly looking for tutors, mentors, and childcare help to assist in their programs and classrooms.
If transportation constraints limit your ability to make it off campus, consider volunteering at Georgia Tech!
Head just past the student center, and you’ll find the Smithgall Student Services Building (Flag Building), home to Georgia Tech’s Student Temporary Assistance and Resources Organization. STAR is made up of several programs that aid in-need students throughout the year who may need help obtaining housing, professional clothing, or food on a temporary or regular basis.
One of the programs that works closely with STAR is the Campus Kitchen project, which relies on 60 volunteers a week to package excess food from dining halls to donate to STAR’s own Klemis Kitchen and outside community partners, like Atlanta Mission.
“Campus Kitchen has given me the opportunity to form connections with like-minded individuals and develop my own leadership skills, all while working directly to reduce food waste and food insecurity.” – Ivy Xue
Fourth-year student Ivy Xue has worked with the Campus Kitchen program since her first year at Tech and recognizes the rewards of volunteering on your college campus.
The day-to-day operations of many STAR projects are organized by the servant leadership team and program director Steven Fazenbaker. Fazenbaker is a Georgia Tech alum who has watched STAR innovate and expand throughout his past four years with Georgia Tech. However, with this growth, Fazenbaker reminisces on pre-COVID times, when the STAR leadership team was overflowing with members and ideas. Now, the group of three is looking forward to building back that team so more service events and on-campus volunteer opportunities are available to GT students.
“Everyone here is a helper student, and sometimes everyone needs a hand.” – Steven Fazenbeker
To volunteer your time on campus, consider taking up a shift with the Campus Kitchen project or apply to Georgia Tech’s STAR Leadership team today through GT Engage.
Whether off campus or on, choosing to donate your time, resources, or knowledge to those in need is a great first step to helping build a better Atlanta. While busy schedules and financial constraints may seem like barriers for college students to make a difference, the truth is that there are many meaningful, free, and simple ways to give back to the community. Thinking about which method makes the most sense for you and staying aware of the many opportunities nearby keeps the door open to engage in service, even during college years.
