Serving in our Local Community
The following organizations are supported by our parish in the local community. In some cases, members of Holy Family were instrumental in establishing and providing crucial levels of support for these organizations in their infancy, and we continue to be involved. Currently we provide financial support through our outreach budget and individuals from the parish volunteer where they feel called and are needed.
To become involved with any of the organizations below, please contact the people identified for each one or contact the Parish Administrator at holyfamch2@etcmail.com or 770-893-4525.
ACES Youth Home, Inc. – ACES Youth Home, Inc. provides shelter to boys and girls between the ages of twelve to eighteen. It provides a safe, secure, and nurturing shelter for children who have been victims of abuse or neglect. The organization’s goal is to help children discover their strengths and learn to cope with the crises in their lives. The staff strives to recognize the value and dignity of each individual they serve. Parishioners volunteer by being board membership, tutors, mentors and providing social activity support. To become involved, please contact Director Erin Bleisath or assistant director Christina Patten at 706-253-2375.
Angels on Horseback – The mission of Angels on Horseback is to provide therapeutic equine-assisted activities to individuals with mental, physical or emotional disabilities and to encourage growth through the benefits of horse and human relationships. They offer Equine-Assisted Activities (EAA) that include Therapeutic Riding and Equine-facilitated Learning at their equine center in Jasper, Georgia. Parishioners assist with all aspects of animal care and class support.
Boys and Girls Club – The mission of the Boys and Girls Club of North Georgia is to enable all young people, especially those in need, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The organization’s vision is to provide a world-class Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who walks through their doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle. There are many areas in which volunteers are needed. If you are over the age of 18 and want to get more involved, contact their office at volunteer@bgcng.org.
C.A.R.E.S. – C.A.R.E.S. is the food pantry and financial assistance center for the citizens of Pickens County. Its mission is to provide food and essential non-food items, temporary financial assistance, resource counseling and educational assistance to those in need residing in Pickens County, Georgia. Anyone who is placed in a difficult situation due to illness, accident or any misfortune that causes them to be in a temporary or emergency need of food is welcome to be a recipient. “It is our devout hope that those who receive these goods and services will be strengthened in body and spirit.”
Holy Family supports C.A.R.E.S. through our volunteers, a quarterly financial donation, and through enthusiastic participation in C.A.R.E.S. Fund Raisers, including the Pastor’s Pot – a cook-off featuring the special food offering of the ministers from Pickens County. Holy Family, with its spicy dishes, has won that competition a number of times! Follow the link to learn more about what C.A.R.E.S. does or to volunteer to help.
Good Samaritan Health & Wellness Center – Good Samaritan Health & Wellness Center, is a not for profit organization to address the needs of the medically underserved in Pickens County. Good Sam opened its doors in 2002, and was granted Community Health Center status in 2015. Good Samaritan began to provide these services in old mobile home units. It now provides these services in state of the art facilities, and treated 3,776 patients in 2020, with no geographic restrictions on where patients live. To become involved you can email them at volunteer@goodsamhwc.org or call them at 706-253-4673, extension 222.
Weekend Snack Program – The Weekend Snack program provides take home snacks to children on free and reduced school lunch programs in Pickens County whose parents have agreed to accept the snacks. The program administrator purchases easily transported food that is packaged up and sent home on Friday at the end of the school day. In March, 2020, when schools closed due to the coronavirus, over 400 Pickens students were receiving the weekend snacks. The group was able to continue providing snacks, following pandemic safety guidelines, until the end of the school year. Volunteers from Holy Family help purchase, pack and distribute the weekend snack packages. For more information, please go to the Facebook page linked above.
Prison Ministry – Holy Family has a ministry to support the women incarcerated at Lee Arrendale State Prison. Working through the Chaplain’s Office at the prison, members of the parish travel on Mondays to the prison which is located in Alto, GA. Their activities at the prison include:
- Hosting a weekly re-entry program with the Prison Ministry Team at The Cathedral of St. Philip.
- A weekly Eucharist with the women.
- Individual meetings with women as requested by the Chaplain, or by the women.
- Hosting a group of women who are dealing with grief.
- Delivering death or illness messages to the women.
- Providing funds so that the Chaplain’s Office can provide toiletries for indigent women throughout the year and for all of the women at Christmas.
- Providing lunch for the women in the re-entry program and a quarterly lunch for the women in the Episcopal Service with the approval of the Warden.
Contact the Parish Administrator at holyfamch2@etcmail.com or 770-893-4525 to become more involved.