Gainesville Nonprofits and Charities

The humane society provides medical care, enrichment, playgroups, good nutrition and love to the animals in their care. They have saved so many lives of dogs and cats. These animals wouldn’t be alive today, if it were not for the HSNEGA. They are always trying to improve and help the community. Volunteering here is so rewarding. The staff and volunteers share the love and compassion for the homeless animals. They have opportunities for the public to get low cost vaccinations, spay/neuter and much more. We have an incredible Volunteer Program. These animals lives MATTER to all who work or volunteer here. Five stars for sure!!

I am currently deployed in Afghanistan and Ms. Rita Scott from HeroSupport sent me and three others a mattress topper for free. The toppers she sent are absolutely amazing and have helped me sleep so much better since I've been here. The beds here are rediculously uncomforatble (some having springs poking through the mattress) and the toppers completely mask the feeling of springs in my back. I feel like I'm sleeping on my bed back home. I and the three other troops that received these toppers couldn't be more thankful. I highly recommend emailing Ms. Scott if you are experiencing the same issue or know someone deployed that is.

What a blessing it has been to mentor here and get to know all about how they serve families!

Adventures in Missions is a not-for-profit agency which provides assistance to MANY other not-for-profits. They coordinate, train, and send people on short-term and long-term missions trips all over the world. My daughter is currently on an 11-month missions trip through Adventures in Missions called the World Race. She will travel to 11 countries in 11 months. In the countries she has been in so far, they have assisted various other ministries, which I think is a great idea. They come alongside and help those who are already set up and doing what they do so well. I've been impressed with the leadership and logistics that Adventures in Missions has brought to this trip. They have set up teams of 5 to 8 people and send them to a country with 8 to 10 other teams which they call a squad. They have squad mentors who travel with them for the first few months making sure things are working well. They have a team logistics person who is in constant contact with the team and they also have squad coaches (an older couple) who provide assistance and leadership. The coaches will meet with them on the field three times during the trip. This is a top-notch agency and they are doing an incredible job.

We have a kindred spirit with this ministry. We first knew Dr. Brenda, because she was my doctor during her medical practice in Gainesville, Ga. When she first broke the news to her patients that she would be leaving her practice to serve on the mission field, my first thoughts were, OH NO, please don't leave, because I had so much faith and trust in her medical advice, etc., but then as GOD spoke to me about being selfish, I soon learned that she and Richard were doing just what GOD was calling them to do, and that was to serve him in a foreign land to help others. And, this is just what they have accomplished, so I was no longer sad about losing her to help others who were in need. She quoted in a statement the below: <br> <br>As our pastor told me once, “When a Christian loses their joy and peace, it may be because they’re doing the wrong thing in the right place, or the right thing in the wrong place.” It was amazing that God put all the pieces into place so that Richard and I felt the calling at the exact same time. What an awesome God we serve. <br> <br>And, what an awesome GOD we do serve, my family and I are are greatful to know that Dr. Brenda and Richard did listen to that still small voice and surrendered their calling to the mission fields. Many lives have been touched by their willingness to GO, just as the bible commands us to do. Now, that RIchard has gone on to a much better place, Dr. Brenda and her staff have kept the vision going, and we are proud to play an important part in this mission, by giving of our support, and prayers. If there ever was a ministry that was a great one to support, then Helping Hands is one you would want to follow. <br> <br>Danny & Lisa Sims <br>Lula, Ga.

They work well with clients who have struggled with addiction & the criminal justice system. The challenges remain with supervision personnel from probation who are new & may need more training with clients having behavioral disorders. A little extra effort is required with new officers.

The Keaton Franklin Foundation, or Thumbs Up Mission as it is often called, came into our lives during a season when everything was a struggle. My husband had been recently diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer and we found ourselves trying to navigate through all that cancer brings to a family. We were invited to attend a Thumbs Up Retreat and for the first time in a long time, finally felt hope. The retreats are a phenomenal demonstration of love and laughter and families like mine leave knowing that their lives have been forever changed. My family has served as volunteers for the past three years. The more I see of this organization and the people who run it, the more convinced I am this is an organization that truly shines above all the others. Cancer families find hope and love and connection within this group, and the organization is run with the highest standards of ethics. Most of their volunteers were once guest families, which speaks highly of the care they received. They function fully debt free and still have served over 500 families in the short few years that they have been operating. They are an organization worthy of funds and will use them well to continue to serve families walking through this cancer journey. My family is forever impacted by the work of this great organization.

Georgia Mountain Food Bank provides food for many organizations for counties in North Georgia through donations from grocery stores, restaurants, individuals, and organizations. They also grow food. Fantastic opportunity to volunteer and help make a difference.

Terrible experience. Negligent. Unprofessional. Undertrained. Uncaring. Dismissive. Different rules for different clients.<br><br>I signed up for the waiting list after years of being encouraged to seek counseling there by someone who now feels the same way about them.<br><br>Never received an email confirmation—eventually received a phone call that was deeply invasive and personal. Inappropriately so. *Eventually* received another call from a young woman saying she’d call me back (again) at the beginning of the week to *schedule* an appointment.<br><br>Some three weeks later I contacted them on social media to see what was going on. Eventually, the young woman emailed me flippantly saying ‘oh sorry I forgot you, I had COVID’. Instinctually, I kind of questioned that — and shouldn’t someone else have been filling in? <br><br>Yet I felt some compassion because I have also been dealing with some rather serious health problems so we moved forward.<br><br>Unfortunately, with a twist of fate, I had to reschedule both of my initial appointments due to my own health flare ups. <br><br>With no warning, on the second one I was told I was dropped from the program because they had a two time cancellation policy.<br><br>Had they mentioned this policy to me — knowing already about my health issues? Nope. <br><br>Had they internally upheld the standard of behavior implied behind this policy — no, and they are getting paid.<br><br>I had been patient and understanding with them only to be totally discarded with no warning.<br><br>To boot, the person who referred me said she had no knowledge of this policy and has had no trouble rescheduling appointments—even same day for non-health reasons.<br><br>They keep telling me that they’re ’happy to refer me elsewhere’ but I have no insurance and am certainly not ready to navigate anything like this again anytime soon.<br><br>What is that even saying? Well, we don’t want you but maybe someone else will…??<br><br>At the end of the day, this is discrimination against someone with a documented disability. <br><br>So wrong on so many levels.

I first encounter Women For Christ Ministries back in 2012. I walked into what I thought was a clothing store trying to get my mind off my marriage which was about to go under. I was searching for help secretly for my marriage of eleven years. The pain was too much to bare alone but I had no one to turn to for help, every possible place for counseling had a fee and being unemployed at the moment made it impossible to seek such help. <br>Walking into WFC was a definite leading of the holy spirit because I had made my mind up to pack my things and leave my husband for being unfaithful but just when I couldn't carry the load on my own anymore God lead me into this store that morning and I am so very grateful that Ms Stephens was being obedient to God. I was about to make the biggest mistake in my life and God used this ministry to give me the hope I needed then. Ms Stephen had just opened up and as I made my way through the store she came out and spoke with such a humble concern spirit and asked if there was anything she could prayer for me about. Tears rolled down my cheek uncontrollably and she began to prayer for me like only a mother could when her children are hurting. I was moved and she sat me down and minister to me pouring out from her heart her burden to see marriages healed and families restored but she told me very boldly it will not happen if I act out of my flesh. She told me to put God to the test with my family and my marriage and everything that bothers me and let him lead me. She was firm but comforting. Today my marriage is not perfect but I can say that it is totally renewed and the love god has allowed me to gain for my husband has been humbling both to him and to myself. He feels my forgiveness and he repented for his actions. We are a family again who love God and each other and all this would not have been possible had it not been for this amazing ministry and its amazing leader. <br>Ms Stephen invited me to do a couple of counseling sessions with her and she poured into me the wisdom and knowledge that helped me to fight the good fight of faith. I stand today as a testimony of this ministry and I have sent many their way to partake of the greatness. I am very thankful for Ms Stephens and Women For Christ. This is a ministry every community deserves to have for their people.

TIMBALI CRAFTS: an income generating project for women in Swaziland, Africa<br><br>The women of Timbali Crafts have inspired me to give my time and energy to their ministry that is changing lives. Six years ago, on my first trip to Swaziland, my heart was broken. Everything I saw led me to the conclusion that life for these rural families is about survival. This tiny country at the tip of South Africa has one of the highest AIDS/HIV+ rates and lowest life-expectancies in the world. In a population of less than one million, there are estimated to be more than 140,000 orphans.<br><br>Life is difficult. Most of the Timbali women live without electricity or running water and very little food. There is no way to explain what seeing, holding and feeling this kind of need does to your heart. Everything I do to promote this ministry is done with the faces of these struggling mothers and children in mind.<br><br>One of the most admirable things about the women of Timbali Crafts is that they give back despite their own struggles. The Timbali women are all volunteer cooks at local feeding centers. They cook one hot meal 6 days a week for the vulnerable children and orphans in their communities. That meal is the only meal most of the children receive each day. The 110 women of Timbali Crafts help feed over 3,000 children daily. The Timbali women also face other hardships; most are either widowed or abandoned, and many are single mothers or grandmothers raising their orphaned grandchildren.<br><br>These women are loving and serving others in their communities. When I saw the beautiful hand-made Timbali products these women sew I wanted to help them in any way I could. Every Timbali purchase helps provide a much needed income to enable them to feed their children, pay school fees and meet their family's immediate physical needs. Timbali Crafts shines with such bright hope and is changing the lives of these hard-working women and their families who would otherwise have little or no resources.<br><br>My family has chosen to lead an active effort to support Timbali Crafts year-round by selling the products that the Timbali women create. We travel (at least monthly) to sell and promote Timbali Crafts at various conferences and festivals in the Midwest. It is my privilege to volunteer my time to exhibit at these various events. All of the money that I receive from selling these crafts goes back to the Timbali ministry. My payment is seeing the smiling faces of the Timbali women on my return trips to Swaziland. It is these women who are making a huge difference in thousands of orphans' lives every day.<br><br>Giving my time and energy to the Timbali Crafts women and their families has become a passion for me; a way for me to reach out with the love of Christ half-way around the world from Swaziland.<br><br>www.timbalicrafts.org

LCKC has been a big part of my life for over 10 years. In this time I have seen close to one hundred youth come through various parts of the program up to Olympic hopeful status. <br>The coaching staff is always top notch and the kids learn both paddle skills and life skills. Many athletes have gone on to their professional life with a teamwork and individual goal-mined thought process you rarely find. <br>They also have a good masters program for adult athletes. <br>501c3; run on donations and club dues only.

This chuch is one of the best because they treat guests well, they teach God's word <br> <br> <br>Thanks to them I am saved

THIS GROUP IS AWESOME. THEY GO INTO VILLAGES AND SSET UP PLAY GROUNDS AND DO SPORTS CLINICS. THEY FOLLOW UP WITH MEDICAL CLINICS IN AREAS THAT HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY TYPE OF HEALTHCARE. THEY THEN FOLLOW UP THAT WITH BACKPACK CHRISTMAS, WHERE THEY GIVE OUT THOUSNDS OF BACKPACKS FILLED WITH FOOD ,TOYS,CLOTHES,BLANKETS AND PERSONAL HYGENE /TOILETRIES.

This is a faith based shelter that provides lunch and dinner daily to those in need. I volunteer on Thursday "family" nights preparing and/or serving dinner. We also hand out a box of non-perishable foods as well as a large bag of frozen chicken to each adult. This is food that can sustain a family for the remainder of the week. They also have an associated clinic to address minor medical needs and a children's development area. A majority of the meals are provided by local church groups, which makes providing meals to this many people possible. This is a great group of people that are always grateful to those that volunteer.

I am 34-year-old mother of 2 whose life was changed by the love and support of the people at A New Walk. I was a drug addict, spending my life in and out of jail, missing out on the lives of my children and destroying family relationships because of my addiction. I spent 9 months in the care of Jan and Dewayne Payne and their ministry in 2007, and came back home a completely new person. I have been drug-free now for 4 years, and I contribute that fact to, first and foremost, my relationship with God, and secondly, to my time spent at A New Walk Christian Fellowship. These people are loving and accepting of anyone who walks through their doors, and they go out of their way to help people who are homeless, hopeless, need a helping hand, and need God in their lives. They are tough when needed, but everything they do is done in love, and that is exactly what it takes to help some of the people who come into contact with their organization. I am forever grateful for the time that I spent with them, and I know that there are many more like me whose lives have been changed by the people at A New Walk.