Day 20: Southeastern Tornadoes & Flood Response Update

Dear Friends,

Our disaster relief efforts in Georgia and Tennessee are still going strong following the devastating tornadoes and floods that ravaged the Southeast at the end of March.

We're so fortunate and grateful to be working closely with our local community partners, especially the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA, however we continue to need your support to keep our teams on the ground and well-equipped to make a difference.

Inspiritus’ Kevin Burgess led a group of Home Depot volunteers as they removed debris from homes impacted by these catastrophic tornadoes.

Below is how we're helping survivors in Newnan, Georgia and South Nashville, Tennessee:

GEORGIA:

Where:

Our teams are currently on the ground in Newnan. Special thanks to the Go Church for hosting us at one of their properties, the former Palmetto Church of God. The Inspiritus volunteer and housing operation center is located at 84 Smith Circle, Newnan GA 30265. We have space and capacity for additional volunteers to be housed safely at this location, so please consider joining us.

Who:

As of today, our Inspiritus staff and volunteers have completed:

• Over 215 volunteer hours

• 60 assessments

• 10 saw jobs

• 12 debris removal projects

What:

Inspiritus is collaborating with local churches and partners, including ITDRC, and the Siren Project to prepare to stay a few more weeks. We're supporting local families with damage and needs assessment coordination, debris removal, chainsaw and heavy equipment services, roof tarping, emotional and spiritual care, and other assistance as needed.

Our special thanks goes out to Home Depot and the Home Depot Foundation for their continued generosity and support as we empower disaster survivors on their journey from surviving to thriving!

#NewnanStrong

TENNESSEE:

Tennessee's flood event left six people dead, hundreds rescued from flooded cars and homes, and extensive damages to businesses and homes. It is marked as the worst flood in the last decade.

Where:

Inspiritus has been on the ground in South Nashville since Monday evening, completing damage assessments for flood survivors. Special thanks to Christ Lutheran Church in Nashville for hosting us for this effort.

Who:

Our disaster relief staff are working closely with our partners: Hands On Nashville, TN VOAD, and the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA.

What:

Our crews are currently assessing and preparing to provide the following services:

• muck & gut

• mold sanitation

• mitigation

• chainsaw

• debris removal

• sort & salvage

HOW TO HELP:

VOLUNTEER WITH US!

If you'd like to volunteer in Newnan, Georgia, please contact Sabrina More: sabrina.more@weinspirit.org

To volunteer in Nashville, please sign up through Hands On Nashville HERE

DONATE TODAY: click here or checks can be mailed to:

Inspiritus
Attn: Disaster Response
731 Peachtree Street NE, Suite B
Atlanta, GA 30308

If you haven't given yet, please consider giving today by clicking below. Thank you for your continued prayers and generous support.

Kind Regards,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Day 11: Southeastern Tornadoes & Flood Response Update

Dear Friends,

Inspiritus Disaster Response teams are providing relief in Newnan, Georgia and Middle Tennessee following the devastating southeastern tornadoes and floods that ravaged five states at the end of March.

Thousands of individuals have been impacted by these tragic weather events, and our hearts go out to each and every one of them.

Click the image below to see how you can help empower the survivors of the Southeastern Tornadoes & Floods:

Below is how we're helping survivors in Newnan, Georgia and Middle Tennessee:

GEORGIA:

Where:

Our teams are currently on the ground in Newnan. Special thanks to the Go Church for hosting us at one of their properties, the former Palmetto Church of God. The Inspiritus volunteer and housing operation center is located at 84 Smith Circle, Newnan GA 30265. We have space and capacity for additional volunteers to be housed safely at this location, so please consider joining us.

Additional thanks to Community Incident Response Foundation for loaning us their Shower Trailer for this effort, and Blue Diamond for loaning their skid loader.

Who:

Since Tuesday, Inspiritus has been training county staff and volunteers to conduct Damage Assessments across the region. Inspiritus staff and volunteers are on the ground now leading volunteer response teams with debris removal efforts. To date, 1700+ homes have been reported as affected by the tornadoes, and the count rises daily.

What:

Inspiritus is collaborating with local churches and partners, including Home Depot, the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA, ITDRC, and the Siren Project to prepare to stay in the weeks ahead. We're supporting local families with damage and needs assessment coordination, debris removal, chainsaw and heavy equipment services, roof tarping, public road clearing, emotional and spiritual care, and other assistance as needed.

#NewnanStrong

Inspiritus Volunteers on the ground

TENNESSEE:

Tennessee's flood event left six people dead, hundreds rescued from flooded cars and homes, and extensive damages to businesses and homes. It is marked as the worst flood in the last decade.

Where:

Inspiritus disaster relief services have been requested to assist in flood response and recovery efforts in the Middle Tennessee region.

Who:

Our disaster relief staff are working closely with local Emergency Management officials, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the Tennessee VOAD, the SE Synod of the ELCA, and our local partners to assess and identify ways to help. In the weeks ahead, Inspiritus will be leading efforts to serve outside of the Nashville area in communities that haven't received sufficient assistance.

What:

Five Inspiritus volunteers are currently helping with the crisis cleanup phone lines, helping to process requests for assistance from local homeowners.

We are continuing to work with our partners to identify local unmet needs and will provide updates soon.

HOW TO HELP:

VOLUNTEER WITH US!

If you'd like to volunteer in Newnan, Georgia or Middle Tennessee, please contact Sabrina More: sabrina.more@weinspirit.org

DONATE TODAY: click here or checks can be mailed to:

Inspiritus
Attn: Disaster Response
731 Peachtree Street NE, Suite B
Atlanta, GA 30308

Thank you for your donations. If you haven't given yet, please consider giving today by clicking below. Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee are in our prayers during this unprecedented time of disaster. Thank you for your prayers and generous support.

Kind Regards,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Day 7: Southeastern Tornadoes & Flood Response Update

Dear Friends,

Inspiritus Disaster Response teams are providing relief in Newnan, Georgia and Middle Tennessee following the devastating southeastern tornadoes and floods that ravaged five states last week.

Thousands of individuals have been impacted by these tragic weather events, and our hearts go out to each and every one of them. The upcoming Easter holiday is a sacred time usually spent with family and friends, however, many of the individuals and families in these regions have lost everything.

Click on image below to see WSB-TV news coverage of Inspiritus' efforts in Newnan:

*Also, read more about Inspiritus and work we're doing on the ground in the latest issue of the Newnan-Times Herald

Below is how we're helping survivors:

GEORGIA:

Where:

The Newnan, GA tornado was one mile wide, and had a 170 mph maximum wind speed.

Our teams are currently on the ground in Newnan, GA where we have set up an operations office at the Coweta County Emergency Operations Center. The University of West Georgia has kindly provided 34 dormitory rooms, as well as, dinner for our volunteers during this response.

Who:

Since Tuesday, Inspiritus disaster relief lead construction manager, Kevin Burgess, along with a group of experts, have been training volunteers to conduct Home Damage Assessments across the region:

"It's a needs assessment training–we're training individuals to go out, knock on doors and ask questions of what is needed, how we can help, and then we're taking that information, bringing it back here, and we're using that information to get the proper volunteers and the proper resources to the right place."

– Kevin Burgess

What:

In Newnan, GA, Inspiritus is collaborating with local churches and partners, including the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA and Home Depot, to prepare to stay in the weeks ahead. We're supporting local families with damage and needs assessment coordination, management of the volunteer reception center, debris removal, chainsaw and heavy equipment services, roof tarping, public road clearing, emotional and spiritual care, and other assistance as needed.

Kevin Burgess with Pastor Terry Lemons, Pastor of Newnan Chapel UMC, the congregation that hosted our training for all damage assessors.

TENNESSEE:

Tennessee's flood event last Saturday has left six people dead, hundreds rescued from flooded cars and homes, and extensive damages to businesses and homes. It is marked as the worst flood in the last decade.

Where:

Inspiritus disaster relief services have been requested to assist in flood response efforts in the Middle Tennessee region.

Who:

Our disaster relief staff are working closely with local Emergency Management officials, the SE Synod of the ELCA, and our local partners to assess and identify ways to help.

What:

Inspiritus is providing remote volunteers to help with the crisis cleanup phone lines and intake requests for assistance from local homeowners.

We are working with partners to identify local unmet needs and will provide updates soon.

Inspiritus' Kevin Burgess coordinating volunteers on the ground

ALABAMA:

The Birmingham, Alabama tornado destroyed homes and lives, causing major damage to communities across Central Alabama.

Special thanks to John Boettner, the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, and the many generous individuals and groups who helped host our volunteers last week.

HOW TO HELP:

VOLUNTEER WITH US!

If you'd like to volunteer in the Southeastern Tornadoes and Flood response efforts, please contact Sabrina More: sabrina.more@weinspirit.org

Inspiritus is coordinating volunteers from local communities and afar. People are contacting us from all over the country, and we have volunteers flying in from as far away as Washington and Michigan to help out on the ground. Volunteers are even helping remotely from their homes, supporting Crisis Cleanup requests in Nashville, as well as other opportunities across all three states.

DONATE TODAY: click here

Checks can be mailed to:

Inspiritus
Attn: Disaster Response
731 Peachtree Street NE
Suite B
Atlanta, GA 30308

Thank you for your donations. If you haven't given yet, please consider giving today by clicking below. Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee are in our prayers during this unprecedented time of disaster. Thank you for your prayers and generous support.

Kind Regards,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

This Good Friday: A Message From John Moeller

Dear friends and colleagues,

I hope each of you are looking forward to a long Easter weekend. As a faith-based organization, Inspiritus recognizes Good Friday as a holiday. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the holiday, on Good Friday Christians commemorate the passion, suffering and ultimately gruesome death of their Lord, Jesus Christ, on a cross at the hands of fellow human beings. It is the beginning of a 3 day vigil that chronicles Jesus’ death, burial and culminates with the celebration of His resurrection from the grave.

I find the weekend particularly meaningful because of the suffering and trauma that our staff and I see every day in our shared ministry at Inspiritus with people. At any given time we are either suffering ourselves or suffering with another human being. Our lives, our work and the lives of those whom we accompany are full of struggle. Sometimes the struggle is very dark and grim and death ensues. For sure, death is a very present danger in our work.

While Good Friday is about death, the Easter story culminates in a resurrection. And that’s what I want to draw your attention to this weekend. While our lives are intricately woven together with our clients and together are full of heartache and challenge, we at Inspiritus also get the benefit of seeing life triumph over death. We witness storm victims celebrating their very lives in the midst of losing every worldly possession. We witness children who are placed in our foster care, tenaciously clinging to life with little hope for a healthy future, awaken in the loving embrace of a foster family.

We witness adults who have intellectual or developmental disabilities move from a limited existence to a vibrant life in the care of host home support companions. We witness daily the return of life to the eyes of refugees and asylum seekers who, fleeing death upon their arrival in our presence, could offer nothing but blank stares and weary eyes. We witness ever present smiles and words of gratitude in food bank lines despite the fact that they have to come to make ends meet week after long week. Everyday individuals and families that the world has written off are painstakingly stitched back together, relationships are healed and life is reborn.

Our work is holy. Our work is resurrection work. You and I ultimately believe that life triumphs over death. Let us never forget this truth.

God bless you during this season and always!

Rev. John R. Moeller, Jr

President & CEO of Inspiritus

Day 5: Southeastern Tornadoes & Flood Response Update

Dear Friends,

Last Thursday, a wave of tornadoes rolled across five southern states, leaving at least six people dead and inflicting heavy damage in its wake. Saturday evening, Nashville, Tennessee experienced the fourth worst flood in the state’s history. This flood has taken the lives of six people, and left hundreds coping with flooded cars, apartments, and homes.

Inspiritus has been called in to help in Birmingham, Alabama; Newnan, Georgia; and Nashville, Tennessee. We've been assembling our three responses and want to give an update on the progress in each of these regions:

ALABAMA:

The Birmingham, Alabama tornado destroyed homes and lives, causing major damage to communities across Central Alabama.

Where:

Inspiritus has set up volunteer operations and a housing station at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Birmingham, AL.

Who:

From this site, we will be providing volunteer response services to the communities impacted (such as Pelham and Columbiana).

What:

In Birmingham, we’re coordinating with Southeastern Synod of ELCA and several congregations who are generously providing meals and airport transportation for our disaster response volunteers.

Our disaster relief volunteers are providing free debris removal, chainsaw and heavy equipment services, roof tarping, public road clearing, and other assistance as needed.

GEORGIA:

Where:

The Newnan, GA tornado was one mile wide, and had a 170 mph maximum wind speed.

Our teams are currently on the ground in Newnan, GA where we have set up an operations office at the Coweta County Emergency Operations Center. The University of West Georgia has kindly provided 34 dormitory rooms, as well as, dinner for our volunteers during this response.

Who:

Inspiritus staff, Kevin Burgess, and volunteers are helping officials setup and open the local Volunteer Reception Center. Staff have begun to train local county staff and volunteers to conduct Home Damage Assessments across the region. We will assist with coordinating all spontaneous volunteer efforts and support for local families through this center.

What:

In Newnan, GA, Inspiritus is collaborating with local churches and partners, including the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA to prepare to stay on the ground in the weeks ahead to support local families with debris removal and emotional and spiritual care.

Our disaster relief volunteers are providing free debris removal, chainsaw and heavy equipment services, roof tarping, public road clearing, and other assistance as needed.

Yesterday, volunteers brought in much needed tools, provided courtesy of the Atlanta Community Tool Bank.

TENNESSEE:

Torrential rains slammed into the Nashville region Saturday night, causing rivers and creeks throughout 4 counties to flood. This flood event has left six people dead, hundreds rescued from flooded cars and homes, and extensive damages to businesses and homes. It is marked as the worst flood in the last decade.

Where:

Inspiritus disaster relief services have been requested to assist in flood response efforts in the Middle Tennessee region.

Who:

Our disaster relief staff are working closely with local Emergency Management officials, the SE Synod of the ELCA, and our local partners to assess and identify ways to help.

What:

Inspiritus is providing remote volunteers to help with the crisis cleanup phone lines and intake requests for assistance from local homeowners.

We are working with partners to identify local unmet needs and will provide updates soon.

HOW TO HELP:

VOLUNTEER WITH US!

If you'd like to volunteer in the Southeastern Tornadoes and Flood response efforts, please contact Sabrina More: sabrina.more@weinspirit.org

Inspiritus is coordinating volunteers from local communities and afar. People are contacting us from all over the country, and we have volunteers flying in from as far away as Washington and Michigan to help out on the ground. Volunteers are even helping remotely from their homes, supporting Crisis Cleanup requests in Nashville, as well as other opportunities across all three states.

DONATE TODAY: click here

Checks can be mailed to:

Inspiritus
Attn: Disaster Response
731 Peachtree Street NE
Suite B
Atlanta, GA 30308

Thank you for your donations. If you haven't given yet, please consider giving today by clicking below. Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee are in our prayers during this unprecedented time of disaster. Thank you for your prayers and generous support.

Kind Regards,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Day 1: Preparing to Help After Deadly Tornadoes

A wave of tornadoes rolled across five southern states on Thursday, leaving at least six people dead and inflicting heavy damage in its wake. Fourteen tornadoes alone were reported in Alabama, according to the National Weather Service. All in all, there were 22 tornado reports across Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi. (CNN)

Inspiritus stands ready to help as part of our ongoing commitment to assisting impacted communities with basic needs, stability and safety, and we are currently in touch with on-the-ground authorities and partners in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.

Image c/o Patch/Alabama

Your prayers and donations are critical during this time. We could not do the work we do without your generosity. Financial donations to Inspiritus now, or in the earliest days of a response, support us in deploying a team of staff and skilled volunteers to assess need and establish a response program on the ground as soon as it is safe to do so.

Our disaster relief teams are preparing to help lead volunteers in debris removal, chain-sawing, roof tarping, and other supports to damaged homes and properties. Please consider volunteering to help. We will update you soon with details of where and when we could use your assistance.

To stay on top of our latest information, please follow us on our website weinspirit.org and on all our social channels found at the bottom of this email.

We will continue to keep you informed on any plans for an organized disaster response as they develop. Our hearts are heavy for those impacted by these terrible tornadoes. Please join us in prayer for their swift recovery.

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

A Word of Thanks from Assistance Recipients

Dear Friends,

When the CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020 in response to the economic fallout of COVID-19, it provided $2.2 trillion to be distributed among American workers, families, and small businesses who needed it most.

Inspiritus was one of a handful of nonprofits selected to receive CARES funding to distribute to those in need. We have served 4,336 individuals to date through this important funding – helping residents pay their rent, mortgage, and utility bills to prevent evictions following their lost incomes.

However, this outcome was not achieved through CARES funding alone. This amazing work would not be possible without the unwavering support of generous individuals and congregations who rose to the occasion during this extremely difficult time. When our neighbors needed it most, our network of ministries and supporters across Georgia and Tennessee donated the funds to help children and families in their community.

Today, we invite you to hear from some of the individuals who benefited from your generosity (please click on the image below to play):

We invite you to share this video with your friends, colleagues, legislators, and faith-based organizations as you see fit. With your support, Inspiritus will continue to empower individuals and families on their journey from surviving to thriving!

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

For over 90 years, Inspiritus' mission has been to guide individuals and families on a path from surviving to thriving. Inspiritus empowers those whose lives have been disrupted to discover their strengths and resilience, accompanying them as they grow into vibrant contributors to their community. To learn more: weinspirit.org.

Day 18: Hear from Disaster Volunteers on the Ground Now

Volunteers on the Ground in Tennessee

WHAT WE ARE DOING

Three weeks ago, Winter Storm Uri created widespread destruction in Overton County, Tennessee. Inspiritus disaster response teams have been on the ground since the storm, providing residents with free chainsaw services to their homes and property.

So far we've completed:

• 104+ hours of heavy equipment operation

• Over 140 project site assessments

• Over 111 jobs

• Over 1,700 volunteer hours

This rapid response effort would not be possible without the support from our partners: Airbnb, Airlink, Home Depot, Overton County, and Christian Emergency Network.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

VOLUNTEER WITH US!

If you would like to help empower disaster survivors on their journey from surviving to thriving, come volunteer with us.

We have 2 long-term recovery programs in progress in Southwest Georgia and Cookeville, Tennessee.

We invite you to join us as we help our neighbors recover from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Michael and the 2020 Middle Tennessee Tornadoes.

• Due to a lack of volunteers in Southwest Georgia, Inspiritus is having to outsource work to contractors…which allows us to help fewer people.

• A lack of volunteers also means that it is taking longer to bring these people home!

If you'd like to volunteer in these recovery efforts in Southwest Georgia and Middle Tennessee, please contact Sabrina More, our Lead Disaster Case Manager / Disaster Relief Volunteer Manager at sabrina.more@weinspirit.org

We will continue to share updates from the ground as our teams assist those impacted by Winter Storm Uri. In the meantime, please follow our social media channels @weareinspiritus for the latest news.

Thank you for your donations. If you haven't given yet, please consider giving today by clicking on the button below. Through your generosity and support, we're bringing hope to the people who need it most.

Gratefully,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Inspiritus is also partnering with Overton-Pickett Emergency Communications to host a Community Cleanup Day on Saturday, March 13th:

We will be checking in volunteers and handling the logistics to efficiently assign project site work orders. If you live in the Overton County surrounding area and would like to join us, please contact Sabrina More, our Lead Disaster Case Manager / Disaster Relief Volunteer Manager at sabrina.more@weinspirit.org

Thank You for Participating in Hunger Walk Run 2021!

Hello Friends,

What an amazing Hunger Walk Run we had this past Sunday! So many supporters showed up for Inspiritus, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and local food ministries/pantries. We want to thank each and every one of you for your hard work and participation.

Even though we couldn't walk together this year at the Home Depot Backyard, many congregations reported a record number of members coming out for virtual walks around their neighborhoods!

PICTURED: Kimberlie Marsh, Refugee & Immigrant Services Client Services Manager and Aimee Zangandou, Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services Director

PICTURED: Walkers from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, John's Creek

Congratulations to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marietta for having the largest number of registered walkers and runners with 43.

Congratulations to our Newest Champions:

• Rev. Mary Armstong-Reiner, St. John Lutheran Church, Griffin

• Barbara Arne & Heather Wallace, St. John's Lutheran Church, Atlanta

• Stacy Fisher, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd/Daily Bread, Douglasville

• Chuck Storla, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marietta

• Becky White, Trinity Lutheran Church, Lilburn

PICTURED: (Champion) Heather Wallace, St. John's Lutheran Church, Atlanta

Most of all, we had some very impressive totals that we just have to share:

• $41,456 in confirmed online donations

• 480 donations

• 27 teams

• 286 registered walkers/runners

Hunger Walk was a great success because of you. And you rose to the challenge of doing something totally new with the event going virtual! We won't know the final totals for at least a month since donations will continue to come in through the end of March, but we do know that there may be some surprises in the top ten.

It was such a great chance to get outside, get active AND support a great cause. We're already looking forward to next year!

With Gratitude,
– Lorraine Dorough
Inspiritus

PICTURED L- R: VIP Champion Don Larsen, Joan Larsen, Superior Court Judge Beau McClain & his wife Heather, Susan Duke, Butch & Leila Myers, founder of Daily Bread Ministry. Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Douglasville

PICTURED: Team Matthew 25:35 (which includes members from First United Lutheran Church and Mt. Zion AME Church in Kennesaw).

Join the Conversation: Rebuilding Refugee Resettlement

Dear Friend,

We want to invite you to join Inspiritus’ Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services, Aimee Zangandou, and Inspiritus President & Chief Executive Officer, Reverend John R. Moeller, Jr., in their conversation to discuss our long-standing refugee resettlement program.

It's an exciting time for our Refugee Services as we're getting ready to welcome more and more refugees to Georgia. This includes the important work to be done to rebuild the infrastructure for resettlement, and to prepare our communities on how to welcome their new neighbors.

We hope you’ll join us on Thursday, March 18 to learn more about Inspiritus’ refugee resettlement program, and to hear how we are working to make Georgia a welcoming state for those seeking safety and opportunity in our country!

Inspiritus will be holding two webinar sessions (depending on your location):

THURSDAY, MARCH 18

SAVANNAH: Webinar at 10:00 AM

Register Here

ATLANTA: Webinar at 6:00 PM

Register Here

Be sure to register today so you don't miss out on this informative session. Look forward to seeing you on March 18!

Kind Regards,

Sarah Burke
Community Engagement Coordinator
Inspiritus

The Middle Tennessee Tornado: One Year Ago Today

TODAY IS THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE TORNADO

In the early hours of March 3, 2020, the Middle Tennessee Region suffered a deadly tornado that left 25 dead and many homes destroyed. Our Nashville property at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was spared; however our Germantown and North Nashville neighbors suffered significant damages. We want to take a moment and reflect on the one year anniversary of this disaster.

THE NEED WAS GREAT

North Nashville/Germantown suffered a direct hit to homes and businesses. Initial surveys indicated EF-3 tornado damage in East Nashville, Nashville’s Donelson neighborhood and in Mt. Juliet, a town about 20 miles east of Nashville.

Communities inside and outside of metro Nashville were devastated. Putnam County emergency officials confirmed 18 of the 25 Nashville tornado fatalities occurred in Cookeville, TN.

Inspiritus disaster response teams immediately set up a feeding station for residents in the Nashville area, and sent in volunteer teams for debris removal, chainsawing, and roof tarping.

We worked closely with the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA and other faith partners to provide a daily lunch and access to food and water supplies for local residents and responders.

Local emergency management needed Inspiritus' support with the rapid influx of volunteer and non-profit agency responders coming into the area, so we helped lead the coordination of thousands of volunteers in this response.

At that same time this tornado hit, Middle Tennessee (and the rest of the United States) was hit with another disaster: the coronavirus pandemic. Not only was COVID a danger to these insecure neighborhoods, there was growing concern about the need for hunger relief (especially individuals with disabilities, health risks, low-incomes, and job losses).

Shelter in place orders caused an additional hurdle to the response, but thanks to the determination and perseverance of our staff and volunteers, we were one of the few food pantries to remain open continuously in the Nashville region last year. And, our disaster response volunteers continued to help while following proper CDC guidelines and safety measures.

HOW WE HELPED

• Provided over 1,000 COVID-19 Prevention Kits

• Served 1,909 individuals through our Nashville Food Pantry

• Completed 34,429.50 volunteer hours

• Completed 116 jobs, and 95 home repairs

• Cleared 7 1/2 miles of roads for homeowners’ access

• 5 acres were cleared for a community swimming pool

• Sponsored 204 active family gardens for families in low-income communities

WE'RE STILL WORKING

Today, Inspiritus continues to accompany families who have yet to recover from the Middle Tennessee tornado. With the support of partners like Lutheran Disaster Response, Thrivent, and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, we have teams on the ground now helping repair dozens of homes in Cookeville. We are also currently leading complete home rebuild projects for several families whose homes were destroyed.

Even though a year has passed, some families are still unable to return to their homes. Families like the Hardy family. In case you missed it, watch how we’re restoring hope for the Hardys one year later in this special news report.

This work is only possible because of partners like you. Please consider donating to the Inspiritus disaster relief efforts so we can continue to help more families like the Hardys.

In addition to this recovery effort, we currently have response teams on the ground in neighboring Overton County, TN, and have established a volunteer camp at the local Police Academy. Please join us if you're available! Food and housing is provided. Please email Sabrina More, our Lead Disaster Case Manager / Disaster Relief Volunteer Manager, if you're interested in volunteering at sabrina.more@weinspirit.org

We ask that you join us in prayer for these families and volunteers as we work to empower those still suffering on their path from surviving to thriving.

Gratefully,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Our Middle Tennessee Tornado Response was made possible through partnerships with:

Day 8: TN Response Update

Day 8: TN Winter Response Going Strong

At least 12 people died after last week's winter storm in Middle Tennessee. Winter storm Uri plunged temperatures to below the freezing mark and left thousands of households without power.

Overton County was hit particularly hard. The Emergency Manager for Overton County and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency called Inspiritus in to help. We rapidly deployed several of our volunteer chainsaw teams to begin clearing roadways to ensure the electric company could restore power to households.

We've had over 425 requests for help in Overton County. Now our disaster response teams are assisting homeowners and offering free chainsaw services to their homes and property.

Today, the team is setting up a new base at the Livingston Police Academy. The Heritage Academy (out of Cookeville, TN) is bringing in trained sawyers and swampers to join us daily. They will also be graciously cooking and providing all our dinner meals.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Inspiritus has received hundreds of requests asking for assistance and we are looking for volunteers! If you'd like to volunteer on this response, please sign up here.

AirLink is flying our teams in for this response, and as of now, our confirmed volunteers are from: Washington, Michigan, Oregon, and California. Some volunteers are driving in from Kentucky, Georgia, and Indiana. We are so grateful for these kind souls helping with our on the ground relief efforts!

Special thanks to these partners for making this effort possible: Airbnb, Airlink, Home Depot, Overton County, and Christian Emergency Network.

We are preparing for a multi-week response, so we can continue to empower Middle TN residents on their journey from surviving to thriving. We will continue to share updates from the ground as our teams assist those impacted by this deadly storm. Thank you for your donations. If you haven't given yet, please consider giving today by clicking on the button below. Through your generosity and support, we're bringing hope to the people who need it most.

Gratefully,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

10 Days Away from 2021 Virtual Hunger WalkRun!

Hello Friends,

We're ten days away from the Hunger Walk/Run on March 7.

Here are 10 ways you can participate:

1. Set up your own team

2. Join a team-click here to find one!

3. Donate to a Team

4. Fundraise for a team

5. Become a Champion, get a yard sign, and display it

6. Join the Inspiritus Team

7. Donate to the Inspiritus team!

8. Promote on your social media*

9. Send emails to friends & family, encouraging them to donate or walk/run

10. Join a Hunger Walk virtual event. View on Youtube or Facebook

*Get Social! Make sure to include a link to your personal or team fundraising page in every Facebook, Instagram and Twitter post about the Hunger Walk Run. Be sure to tag the Food Bank @ACFB (on Instagram and Twitter) and use the hashtag #HWR2021. Also, send thank you notes to supporters...it's important to thank everyone that is supporting you!

Join the Hunger Walk's Champions Club

Remember that anyone who raises $500 or more earns a spot in Hunger Walk's Champions Club and is eligible for special benefits and privileges.

Click here to learn more about the Champions Club.

Congratulations to our new VIP Champions: Mike Frey and Rachel Thornton from Lutheran Church of Resurrection in Marietta and Maggie DeLano from Prince of Peace in John's Creek.

And our new Champions: Hermon Rao from Cross of Life Lutheran Church in Roswell, and Theresa Rogers from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

Congratulations also to our top five teams to date:

1. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, John's Creek

2. Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marietta

3. Cross of Life Lutheran Church, Roswell

4. Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd/Daily Bread, Douglasville

5. St. Luke Lutheran Church, Atlanta

*To see a full list of teams and join an existing team, click here

Don't forget to pick up your t-shirts:

All online registrants are eligible to receive a walker or runner t-shirt. You will have the opportunity to either have the t-shirt shipped for a nominal fee or elect to pick it up the following t-shirt distribution days:

• March 6 - The Atlanta Community Food Bank 12-4pm (2021 shirts)

Find a trail near you and get walking or running!

Find a great outdoor trail near you to get your steps in and help feed a hungry neighbor. View the list of trails here.

• Join your team, family or friends and get active in your community, walking or running at any time or join us virtually on March 7.

• If your congregation isn't going to have a team this year, you can still walk! Join or donate directly to our Inspiritus team! The need is great, and your support will make all the difference.

Did Someone Say Sandwich?

On March 7, wear your 2021 Hunger Walk Run T-shirt to any local Arby's, purchase a small order of french fries and receive a free Classic Roast Beef Sandwich! Share the news with your friends and family and encourage them to register.

We have over 182 registered walkers and runners, 23 teams and $20,909 in confirmed gifts! Donations are still coming in as we write this.

Also, there will be no donation envelopes this year. Instead you can access the donation form here and include it with checks made out to Hunger Walk (not Inspiritus!) and put it in a regular mailing envelope.

Let's keep the momentum going and add more teams for our strongest turnout yet. Also, we have posters and cards you can share. If you'd like some, contact Sarah Burke or Lorraine Dorough today. Hunger Walk is a great chance to get outside, get active AND support a great cause!

With Gratitude,

– Lorraine Dorough

Inspiritus

Last year, 24 teams from congregations across metro Atlanta, plus our staff team at Inspiritus, raised $73,440.57 in support of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Inspiritus, and food ministries in their communities!

Middle Tennessee Ice Storm Response

Overton County, TN Rapid Response

Over the last week, Middle Tennessee has been impacted by snow from the winter storm that is currently sweeping the nation. This unprecedented change in temperatures has brought significant freezing rain to eastern Middle Tennessee.

Freezing rain and the weight of ice (and additional snow) have caused countless trees to snap and break–bringing down hundreds of power lines. Overton County was hit particularly hard.

We coordinated with the Emergency Manager for Overton County and TEMA to rapidly deploy several Inspiritus volunteer chainsaw teams (10 people each team) to begin clearing roadways to ensure the electric company could restore power to thousands of households.

We are deeply saddened that this storm has taken the lives of six Tennesseans so far, four of whom resided in Middle Tennessee. Outages have been reported in nine counties throughout the region – leaving thousands of residents in the dark.

Inspiritus received an additional request asking for 6-10 teams to assist with delivering welfare checks throughout the affected communities. We have organized and deployed additional teams to assist with these efforts – monitoring roadways and tending to clearing fallen trees if necessary to ensure delivery of these checks.

Please consider donating to support our disaster relief work. We couldn't do what we do without your help. Through your generosity and support, we're bringing hope to the people who need it most.

Gratefully,

Virginia Spencer

Chief Development Officer

Inspiritus

Inspiritus speaks to ABC News: "Everyone Needs A Family."

Below is an excerpt from today's ABC News article. Please note, the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Inspiritus, Inc., a nonpartisan and nonprofit agency.

The hope for refugee resettlement

In 2016, there were nearly 325 refugee resettlement agency offices across the United States. By the end of 2019, more than 100 of those sites had to permanently shut down or suspend their services, according to Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, the president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Vignarajah said her organization, alone, had to close 17 affiliate programs during the Trump era.

"Our organization has had to reduce staff almost every quarter over a four-year period, and it's always agonizing to figure out who's the next staff member who's going to have to go," said John Moeller, head of Inspiritus, a resettlement agency that works in Georgia and Tennessee.

His organization's capacity has been reduced by 80% in the Atlanta area and, between the two states, has lost 50% of its staff.

"That means that you lose cultural competence, you lose language skills, you lose specialization in this field," he added.

To keep programs across the country alive, agencies moved staff to other immigration services that were less severely impacted or digging into their own funds as federal resources dried up.

For Zakaria Abdulrazek, 44, that has meant losing co-workers and sweating whether he was next -- even as he struggles to bring his own family to the U.S. from his native Sudan.

Abdulrazek fled Darfur in 2003 amid the genocidal violence, escaping to Libya and then Malta -- and seven long years later, he arrived in the U.S.

Now, Zak works for Inspiritus in Atlanta as a case manager, helping the latest waves of refugees adjust to life in their new home country.

Zak Abdulrazek, a Sudanese refugee who's lived in Atlanta for over a decade, is trying to bring his wife to the U.S., but he told ABC News her application has faced long delays.

But that journey has been a lonely one. He met his wife a few years ago while visiting Sudan, marrying in 2018 and having a daughter last year. But between the coronavirus pandemic's impact on visa processing and Trump's ban on immigration from Sudan and other Muslim majority countries, his family remains separated.

While Zak's encouraged by Biden's executive order (Biden pledged to increase the annual refugee admissions cap to 125,000 in the 12-month period starting Oct. 1.), he's still waiting to see how it will impact his wife's visa application.

"Still we need actions, so we are waiting, hoping it will be better than before," he said.

In the meantime, he worries for their safety, especially as violence flares up again in the Darfur region and Sudan struggles with fuel and food shortages and an economy on the brink of collapse. He said that a close friend returned last month to visit family in Darfur when militant forces targeted him as a U.S. citizen and killed him.

Josine Izabayo, a 24-year-old refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo, moved to the U.S. last year and is adjusting to life in Georgia on her own. She told ABC News she's had a hard time adjusting to life in the U.S., especially without her family who remain overseas.

'Everybody needs a family”

Advocates say the U.S. must do more to meet the historic need. There are more than 80 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, including 26 million refugees.

Josine Izabayo, a 24-year old refugee from Democratic Republic of the Congo, made "the very difficult decision to quit your country" in 2014, fleeing the DRC's relentless conflict that made her an orphan. She spent six years in Uganda stuck "in process," she said, awaiting word on resettlement.

"I came to a new country, new life without knowing anybody," Izabayo told ABC News.

One year ago, she moved to Clarkston, Georgia, outside Atlanta. But her adopted family of nine has not been admitted, their applications left in the balance.

"Everybody needs a family to support and to be with, and so it is very challenging for me," she said. "Hopefully, it will be good... soon."

We hope so, too, Josine!

Please consider donating to our refugee services and programs today, so we can continue our work to reunite families. As always, thank you for the compassion, support, and care you provide to the refugees we serve. We couldn’t do this work without you!

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Inspiritus in U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report
Feb. 5, 2021, at 5:24 p.m.
By Claire Hansen, Staff Writer

Long Shadow of Trump's Refugee Restrictions Threatens Biden's Bid to Up Admissions

Resettlement agencies, crippled by Trump’s policies, say they’re determined to rebuild as President Joe Biden promises to increase refugee admissions.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Inspiritus, Inc., a nonpartisan and nonprofit agency.

The Rev. John Moeller has had to lay off a lot of employees since the Trump administration began slashing refugee admissions four years ago."We have a skeleton staff today," says Moeller, the chief executive officer of Inspiritus, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that provides refugee resettlement services."All of the specialization and professional skills and languages we had on our team have all had to go," he says.

But in some ways, Inspiritus is lucky. It is still open. More than 100 organizations in the U.S. have had to close down or suspend their refugee services in the last four years as former President Donald Trump lowered refugee admissions to rock-bottom levels, drying up federal funding doled out to resettlement agencies. Many organizations that didn't have to close were, like Inspiritus, forced to scale down. Now, the diffuse refugee resettlement infrastructure in the U.S. is facing a new, albeit more welcome, challenge: rebuilding.

President Joe Biden on Thursday said he will raise the refugees admissions cap to 125,000 for the next fiscal year, fulfilling one of his campaign promises while pledging to restore the refugee resettlement system. He also intends to propose raising admissions for this year after a consultation with Congress.

As with many other programs, Biden will be contending with the long shadow cast by Trump administration policies. It'll likely be years before the crippled system is able to once again process and handle such an influx – a fact Biden seemed to acknowledge.

"It's going to take time to rebuild what has been so badly damaged. But that's precisely what we're going to do," Biden said during a speech at the State Department.

Refugee agencies say they're excited and determined, despite the long road ahead.

The president has the authority to determine how many refugees – the world's neediest people, often fleeing devastating violence and persecution in unstable parts of the world – are admitted to the U.S. each year. The fraction of those allowed to settle in the country go through extensive background and security checks that can take up to two years in some cases.

April 7, 2020 | Bogota, Colombia | Venezuelan migrants leaving Colombia walk on a highway with their belongings. Thousands of Venezuelan migrants living in Colombia have lost their jobs and in some cases been evicted from their homes due to the recession caused by the spread of COVID-19. Groups of Venezuelans gather in walking caravans and head to the border crossing in Cucuta, Colombia. (Guillermo Legaria/Getty Images)

Trump, who campaigned on an anti-immigrant message, targeted the refugee program as soon as he took office, almost immediately slashing admissions from 110,000 to 50,000 and pushing the cap down further each year, ending with a ceiling of 15,000 for the current fiscal year.

It was an enormous deviation for the program, which has been robustly supported by both Republican and Democratic presidents and held up as an example of American's moral leadership. The annual ceiling on admissions has historically averaged about 95,000.

Resettlement in the U.S. involves a complex web of private and public partners. It is largely handled by nine major nongovernmental organizations that work with the State Department and either have local offices around the country or partner with local agencies. The federal government, which vets and processes refugees before they are allowed into the country, gives the agencies funding based on how many refugees they settle. Most states also contribute funding, and agencies also rely on volunteers and donations.

Pushing admissions to record lows, therefore, has had a domino effect: Significantly fewer admissions means significantly less money. Less money means fewer staff and fewer offices. "If you wanted to kill a refugee program, this was the way to do it. You squeeze it to death, you strangle it slowly," Moeller says.

The loss of expertise and intellectual capital will be difficult to restore, experts say. Moeller notes that refugee resettlement is an economy of scale: The larger number of refugees an agency serves allows it to be more efficient with staffing and services. Significantly lower admissions also affect whole ecosystems of services that have been grown and nurtured over the years to support newly settled refugees, says Hans Van de Weerd, interim senior vice president, Europe, at the International Rescue Committee, one of the nine major resettlement agencies. "A lot of the systems that benefit from the regular flow of refugees and immigrants arriving get really, really damaged," Van de Weer says of lowered admissions.

Employers that partner with resettlement agencies to provide opportunities for refugees, for example, needed to find other streams of workers when refugee admissions dried up, Van de Weerd says. Losing those partnerships will have a lasting impact, even as admissions ramp back up under Biden.

"The infrastructure and capacity is not there," Moeller says. "The sinews have not been maintained to ensure that the partnerships we need to be effective are knit together."

It wasn't just the raw admissions numbers. The Trump administration also imposed additional bureaucratic barriers on refugees while shuttering refugee offices and reassigning refugee officers.

March 25, 2020 | Berlin | A poster supporting homeless people and refugees is displayed at the window of an apartment building. The German words read: "Racism Kills." (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Trump's travel ban – which was rescinded by Biden on Day One of his term – barred refugees from countries with some of the worst humanitarian crises, like Syria and Yemen. The administration also reset admissions priorities, ditching international standards that push the neediest refugees to the top of the list for guidelines that tend to favor Christians and white Eastern Europeans.

"If you think about the program as a car, not only did the previous administration slam on the brakes, it intentionally sought to dismantle the engine," says Krish Vignarajah, chief executive officer of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, one of the major U.S. resettlement organizations. Vignarajah said 17 of the organization's affiliated refugee agencies had to close in the last four years as a result of Trump policies. Biden seems eager to start reversing some of those policies. He on Thursday signed an executive order aimed at restoring the resettlement system that included a laundry list of action items. The order directs the government to streamline the refugee process and calls for a review of existing programs and some Trump policies. It also rescinds several Trump actions.

Experts involved in resettlement say changes at the federal level concerning policy and staffing will be crucial in building out the resettlement system again, but refugee agencies themselves will still face formidable obstacles in preparing to handle more admissions. Even just finding and hiring qualified staff back will take time."That whole infrastructure was basically strangled, and rebuilding is going to take a massive amount of time," Van de Weerd says.

April 6, 2020 | Ciudad Juarez, Mexico | Cesar, an asylum seeker from Nicaragua waits with his wife, Carolina (right) and his 8-year-old son Donovan at a U.S. port of entry to change their asylum court dates. (PAUL RATJE/AFP/Getty Images)

Agencies are also facing less tangible obstacles. Trump's rhetoric demonizing immigrants and a charged political atmosphere have contributed to a more hostile and xenophobic environment in some places for refugees, agencies say, though they note that their communities are still overwhelmingly welcoming.

"We have seen a shift in how refugees are treated, because sometimes they're lumped into the pool of immigrants, and people aren't always educated on who refugees are," says Shalaina Abioye, the director of refugee services at Catholic Charities Fort Worth in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.

The Trump administration's restrictions on the system, however, came with a few silver linings – some of which could prove crucial in the coming years. Some agencies reassigned staff members from refugee programs to efforts helping asylum-seekers and other immigrants. Those shifts, and the drop in needed refugee services, also allowed organizations to focus heavily on helping communities through the coronavirus pandemic. With less federal funding flowing in, refugee organizations have put more effort into private fundraising, which will come in handy as admissions ramp up and agencies begin to rebuild.

And agencies say they're seeing even more community buy-in and enthusiasm from volunteers – not, perhaps, in spite of the current political environment, but rather because of it.

March 28, 2020 | Lesbos Island, Greece | A migrant family wearing handmade protective face masks stand next to their tent in the Moria refugee camp. (MANOLIS LAGOUTARIS/AFP/Getty Images)

"All of this negative policy attention really did trigger a lot of support in communities," Van de Weerd says. "We will be able to scale up rapidly because there are communities that are willing to help and to stand up and to make local resources available as well."

No one can say for sure how many refugees the U.S. will be able to settle in the next year or two, but many people who work in resettlement say it's unlikely the country will be able to hit 125,000. Some are cautiously optimistic about seeing somewhere between 30,000 and 60,000 refugees admitted in fiscal 2022. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic will likely continue to impose additional barriers on travel and resettlement. Despite a demoralizing four years and the looming challenges ahead, resettlement agencies say they're both hopeful and committed to rebuilding and serving as many people as are admitted to the U.S. Some have already crafted or implemented plans to start expanding their operations again.

"We'll be ready to reach out and hire staff, since there's so many staff who have been laid off from different agencies and across the United States," Abioye says. Moeller, in Georgia, says his staff is determined.

"We will find a way to overcome," he says. "At one level, you might look at the infrastructure and say it's impossible, but at another level, we say that's what we do. We do the impossible."

Please consider donating today to join with us in doing "the impossible."

If you'd like to share a link to this article, please do so here. As always, thank you for the compassion and support you provide to refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants.

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

#refugeeresettlement #SurvingtoThriving #Inspiritus

Preparing to Expand Our Refugee & Immigrant Services

Dear Friend,

In recent years, U.S. policy changes were detrimental to the refugee resettlement infrastructure that has long been a part of the American nonprofit sector. Year after year, we watched as Federal reductions cut refugee resettlement numbers in half, then in half again. During this time, we grieved as our colleagues and partner organizations suffered from these cutbacks and, in some cases, were forced to close their doors.

As 2021 begins, Inspiritus is eager and preparing for rapid expansion of our Refugee & Immigrant Services, to help as our country returns to its legacy of being a global advocate for refugees. We are grateful to our many supporters who care so passionately for refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants. Your compassion and unyielding support helped us make it through this tough time. Now, it is with great hope that we, together, look forward to rapid growth in the years ahead -- as a wave of policy changes help us return to being the welcomer of refugees we have always been as a country.

Inspiritus would like to thank you all for your continued support during these turbulent and unprecedented times. Without the generosity of individuals like you, our work would not be possible!

Over the last four years, our Refugee & Immigrant Services program had to adapt like never before. But our commitment to those we serve has never faltered.

As we gear up for exciting news from Washington D.C. in the weeks ahead, we need your help now more than ever. President Biden’s immigration proposals not only include a pathway to citizenship for nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants but entail an expanded refugee resettlement plan as well. We are eager to welcome those who seek an opportunity to start anew in America.

Inspiritus and our national partner, Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Services, encourage you to not only welcome these individuals with open arms, but to take action and make an impact in your community.

LIRS has outlined 5 ways YOU can make an difference:

Act: Sign up for the LIRS newsletter or alerts and follow their Facebook page (@LIRSorg) to receive special news blasts with timely information on the changing policies and how you can continue to support the work of welcoming migrants and refugees. These news blasts will include details of each policy, a short summary that can easily be shared with friends and family, and actions you can take to continue to support migrants and refugees.

Donate: Inspiritus, LIRS, and our partner organizations are preparing for some big changes. We invite you to be part of the rebuilding of our capacity to welcome so we can support every migrant and refugee family that comes through our doors. Donate here or use the button below.

Advocate: Your advocacy communicates to our nation’s leaders that the communities they represent stand with migrants and refugees. Though we expect positive change to come with the new administration, we still need your voice! Bookmark the LIRS Advocacy page and stay up to date with the latest ways you can get involved.

Pray: Pray for our country, our leaders, and the changing policies that affect migrants and refugees.

Psalm 146

God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, you have cared for refugees throughout the ages. You walked with Abraham and Sarah. You provided for Hagar and her child Ishmael. When Jacob’s family was forced by famine to leave their home, you guided them to Egypt. You freed your people Israel from slavery and led them, safely through the wilderness. You protected the holy family of Jesus when they fled violence. You commanded your people to show compassion and justice to foreign workers and bade them remember that they once had been wanderers. Jesus identified with the sojourner when he said, ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

Teach: LIRS has put together a list of their Top Ten Immigration Policy Priorities for the new administration. Read more about each priority on their website to learn more about how we believe these changes can transform our immigration system.

As always, thank you for the compassion and support you provide to refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants. Let us rejoice in the spirit of welcome!

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Inspiritus MLK Day of Reflection 2021

A day of service, learning and advocacy to commemoratethe life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This will be an enlightening afternoon of reflection. We are very excited to announce that we will have a children's pastor and two youth pastors facilitating an age-appropriate learning experience for the first half of the afternoon's event.

Our children will be lead by: Deacon Mary Houck. She serves as Director of Children's Ministry and Special Needs Ministry at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta and has been involved in leadership of the Inspiritus MLK Day of Service for several years.

Our youth will be lead by Reverend Michael Jannett and Hillary Nelson. Reverend Michael is the Assistant to the Bishop for Communication and Formation for the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA. Hillary Nelson is the Director for Middle and High School Youth Ministry at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta.

The adult sessions will have a multi-sensory approach with musical performances and artist, GW Harper, painting through out the event. We will reflect on Dr. King's messages of peace, hope, and service through poems, lectures, and break-out group discussions.

Families, please register each of your children separately, and indicate whether you'd like a children's ticket (5th grade and under) and/or a youth ticket (6th grade through 12th grade) on our registration page.

Please note that families will begin the event together, on the parent's Zoom link, then we will ask the children to log on to a separate Zoom on their own devices after the introductory portion of the program.

We look forward to learning, serving, and advocating with you on January 18th!

A Special Zoom Event

Monday, January 18, 2020

1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST

Giving Tuesday was a success because of you!

Hi Friends,

By now you are thinking, PLEASE not another Giving Tuesday email from Inspiritus!

Well, we have to send just one more to let you know that because of you're overwhelming generosity and support, we exceeded our goal of $5,000. We reached over $12,000 in donations, including a generous $5,000 match grant from Jill & Eli Flournoy and The Bash Party Rentals.

You made such an impact this Giving Tuesday. We are beyond grateful. Thank you again for all your support!

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer

Vice President of Development

Inspiritus

Giving Tuesday is a week away

Giving Tuesday is one short week away.

Join us next Tuesday, December 1st for a day of giving and celebration. The goal is simple and powerful: to connect more Georgians to Inspiritus for the largest day of giving in our state. Here are a few ways you can participate:

POST. Share all our Facebook posts about Giving Tuesday on your social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and help us spread the word! Use the hashtags #GAGives #GivingTuesday

EMAIL. Forward this email with our "GIVE VIDEO" below to your personal network of friends & family, and ask them to forward on to their network. After all, sharing is caring!

DONATE. Please show your support and make a donation to Inspiritus by donating here.

Early donations are now accepted and will go towards our overall goal. Give today to receive a 100% match up to $5,000, courtesy of Jill & Eli Flournoy and The BASH Party Rentals

WATCH & SHARE. Watch and share our "GIVE HOPE" video below. Please share this video with your faith congregation, friends & family today to support our #GivingTuesday efforts.

Your gift will help more individuals and families get back on the path from surviving to thriving. Thank you from all of us here at Inspiritus. We hope you have a safe & healthy Thanksgiving and holiday season!

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer

Vice President of Development

Inspiritus