Written by Joan Lord, a member of Glenn’s Justice Team
Glenn’s LNFY crew began working closely with Lost ‘n Found Youth about a year ago, primarily in serving meals to its clients. It all started when the Drawing the Circle Wide caucus at Glenn suggested the organization be included in the 2022 Alternative Giving Catalog. The catalog brought generous contributions, and our work was launched early in 2023. We soon settled into a routine of preparing and serving the meal for a standard, required gathering of the clients and staff: the monthly Lunch ‘n Learn. We handle the lunch part. And, we have sometimes supplied food for clients and staff to prepare meals for special occasions and picnics.
Glenn’s LNFY Crew: Our group of about twelve people is large enough that, for any specific event, we’ve been able to provide meals nearly every time LNFY requests our help. Our regular Lunch ‘n Learn meals are generally theme-based: we’ve served tail-gate fare, Halloween and Christmas favorites, a Pascal’s Restaurant inspired/ MLK-themed luncheon; we have a Valentine-themed one planned for February. We’ll follow in March with a St. Patrick’s Day meal (shepherd’s pie) and share the Irish food-heritage of several on our team.
Earlier this week, we sponsored a shopping trip to Sam’s for kitchen basics. As it happened, our LNFY staff representative called to ask if we could provide groceries for LNFY's two transition houses. Having made similar purchases in the past, we weren’t surprised at the request. We had sufficient carry-over funds from the 2022 Alternative Catalog proceeds to be able to say "yes."
Just recently, I met two staff members at Sam’s for the shopping expedition. I learned then that LNFY’s two houses will resume morning and evening communal meals. They had fallen into a pattern of “grab-and-go” meals as they made the transition in housing last year from the Park Avenue church to two houses designed for eight clients each. LNFY has now given the house managers responsibility for planning and executing communal breakfasts and dinners. (Lunch is served at the program’s drop-in center.) We found some great buys on fresh and frozen meats and breakfast items, and we bought those alongside the staples on LNFY’s list.
LNFY will continue to depend on the web app, Meal Train, for volunteers to schedule food deliveries, but the house managers and clients will plan meals together for the houses based on contributions – some food, some monetary. The clients will be permitted to cook, but they must produce dishes that will serve everyone. Many of them have been willing to do this, but haven't had the supplies.
My shopping companions also reported that LNFY has expanded its services to homeless LBGTQ youth who are not a part of its program, but who show up at the LNFY drop-in center. No shelters are available to these individuals on weekends, and agencies around town regularly refer them to LNFY for food. So, LNFY’s staff now prepare bags of "grab and go" food for these individuals. We bought some items to help fill these bags too.
Update on 2023 Alternative Giving Catalog request for MARTA fare-reductions for LNFY: We have just heard that Lost ‘n Found Youth has been accepted into the MARTA-discount fare program for homeless shelters. The MARTA program now allows LNFY to purchase fares for the youth at half price in bulk quantities. This is a very important advance for LNFY, as the cost of MARTA fares has strained its budget for some time.
Our team became interested in this budget strain because transportation for the clients is essential to most of the agency’s efforts, including getting the youth to the Lunch ‘n Learn sessions, as well as medical and counseling appointments and job interviews
Glenn hoped to raise sufficient catalog funds through the 2023 Alternative Giving Catalog so LNFY would have sufficient funds to make its first bulk purchase in the MARTA program or, if acceptance into the MARTA program were not approved this year, to help relieve the budget strain. Our request of LNFY, upon approval into the program, was to launch a campaign designed to attract on-going funding from a broad base of donors to sustain Glenn’s initial “seed” gift. We also asked that it establish a separate account for the proceeds of the MARTA-fare campaign so we could track progress in meeting this budget need. It agreed.
Glenn’s Alternative Giving Catalog raised $1,100 for this MARTA-fare effort, enough to provide approximately six-weeks of fares for all the agency’s youth. Following up on its promise, LNFY will soon launch the MARTA-fare campaign in hopes of having a steady stream of funding for MARTA fares in the next few months, well before the catalog donation is depleted.
We are grateful for the Catalog gifts from the congregation that support our food programs at LNFY and for the opportunity to help LNFY plan for, and now launch, a sustainable way to support the transportation needs of its clients. If you are interested in joining Glenn’s LNFY group, let Joan Lord know through an email to the church office.
Continue to include LNFY in your prayers, expressing gratitude for strides forward and requesting hope for a promising future for the many youths who find themselves in its shelter.