Tag: Dr. Terence Lester

In 2024, the official poverty rate in the United States decreased by less than half a percentage point to 10.6 percent. According to the United States Census Bureau data, there were still 35.9 million people in poverty in 2025. Georgia ranks 38th in the nation in household poverty levels, according to the United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings.

During 2025, with all of the financial insecurity brought on by inflation, cuts to government programs, and the rising costs of living taking place in the United States, giving back to anyone in need has become more important.

This week has been a great week of giving in Atlanta. From food drives to clothing drives to a new home for the holidays, there were plenty of opportunities to give back to the city we love. Here are a few of those moments.

WEST END, ATLANTA, GA. – Finch Elementary School is scheduled to close following the 2025-26 school year. The closure is part of the APS 2040 plan to consolidate schools which are facing dwindling attendance numbers. The people whose kids attend the school year after year, the educators that make up the foundation of the school, and volunteers and education advocates beg to differ.

“If I was on the school board I’d be fighting to keep this school open,” Love Beyond Walls founder Dr. Terence Lester said. “When you’re not close to the struggle, it’s easier to make decisions on what to do with the struggling people.” 

On Wednesday, December 17, Love Beyond Walls and the staff of The Atlanta Voice teamed up to stock the shelves of the food pantry at Finch with dry goods, nonperishable foods, fruit, and more. Finch Principal Dr. Tara Spencer, the 2024-25 APS Principal of the Year, was also there to lend a hand. She believes the heart and soul of Finch is in its people. 

“I’m grateful to Love Beyond Walls and Dr. Lester because he heard the need and jumped into action immediately,” Spencer said. “He made it happen.” 

The food will go to the families of Finch students who have demonstrated need and for Lester, that is what the holiday season is about. With full stomachs and their mind off of their next meal or snack, students at Finch can focus on other things like book reports and computer projects, says Lester.

“This resource room helps the students connect to their education,” Lester said.

SOUTHWEST ATLANTA, GA. – On the previous Monday, December 15, Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) and Fab 5 Foundation hosted what was being called “Filling Carts, Lifting Hearts.” BLMGNF Chairwoman Cicley Gay and Fab 5 Foundation founder and V-103 radio personality Jazzy McBee made their way around the Kroger in the Wesley Chapel Square shopping center, handing out gift cards to unsuspecting customers. 

Customers, including a mother and daughter standing near the checkout line, were taken aback and brought to tears when they were given their card.

“Can I have a hug?” asked McBee. 

The three of them shared a group hug before Gay and McBee moved on to present gift cards to other customers.

“Filling Carts, Lifting Hearts” took place at the Walmart on Gresham Road, another Kroger location on Cascade Road, and finally the Walmart a t 1105 Research Center Drive in southwest Atlanta.

SOUTHEAST ATLANTA, GA. – On Tuesday, former Atlanta Falcons star Warrick Dunn and his Warrick Dunn Charities reached the 250 mark of delivering homes to first-time homeowners. Dunn’s “Homes for the Holidays” program, which began in 1997, is a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing homes to single parents. Standing on the front porch surrounded by the family who was moving into the home and the other organization who helped with making the house a home, Aarons, Dunn said he was getting emotional. 250 homes in and he still gets emotional. 

“When I first started this charity it was a passion for not wanting a kid to go through what I went through,” Dunn said. “Creating that stability, for me, it’s vital.”

In this case, Quanta, a mother of an 11-year-old son, Jerrod, and one-year-old daughter, Aniya, received the keys to their new home and that piece of the American dream. Standing on the porch, Quanta was shocked by all of the people there to welcome her family home. She could barely muster a sentence as she took the microphone to address the crowd.

“This, this is just wow,” she said. “I mean, wow.” 

All of the furniture and appliances were provided by Aaron’s. Warrick Dunn Charities has now delivered 250 homes in 33 cities in 17 states.  

TUCKER, GA. – Later that day, Atlanta Falcons rookie Jalon Walker is planning to host a coat and toy drive back in his hometown of Salisbury, North Carolina on December 23. But first, he took time to give back to his adopted home of metro Atlanta. On Tuesday morning, Walker helped distribute bags of nonperishable food and wrapped gifts to local families in Tucker.

Wearing a navy blue sweatsuit and a wide smile, Walker greeted people and posed for photos in between filling trunks outside of Rehoboth Baptist Church. He told The Atlanta Voice that giving back brings “a smile to my heart.” 

“It’s always great to give back. It never gets old,” Walker said. “Seeing that smile on people’s faces, especially this time of year.” 

Along with the host organization, United Health Care Community Plan of Georgia, Walker, staff members, and volunteers served over 250 people. 

Falcons mascot Freddie the Falcon and a pair of Falcons cheerleaders were also on hand to help. 

MARIETTA, GA. – Comcast partnered with Girls Inc. of Greater (GIGA)Atlanta to host the 6th annual Brunch with Santa, a holiday event for 150 children, ages 6-17, and their families from across Cobb County. The festive community celebration blended holiday festivities with hands-on STEM learning, digital skills-building, and family support services.

The STEM activities included deciphering Jr. engineer secret codes, creating digital Christmas cards and binary code candy canes, and making L.E.D. circuit ornaments. For that activity, kids were dying copper tape to create a pathway for the circuit on their ornaments. In each of the rooms, tables were full of kids working on their projects. 

The brunch took place at the GIGA Marietta Center, where the event was so well-attended by parents and kids who pre-registered that the parking had to be extended to a small lot up the street. Along with the breakfast and STEM training, the three-hour event included a surprise for the kids in attendance.

“This is important because Girls Inc. started to build safe spaces for girls in the community,” Girls Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tiffany Colli-Bailey said. “An event like this circles right back around to why we began.” 

A check presentation took place, where Comcast’s Director of Government Affairs, Shaneak Brown, announced a $30,000 grant from the tech company to Girls Inc. The 150 kids who completed their STEM training that morning were also awarded brand new laptops. 

“Just seeing this room full is why we love supporting this event,” Brown said as she stood in front of a table loaded down with laptops ready for distribution.

Along with The Atlanta Voice, local radio station 1380 WAOK was also in attendance to cover the event. Girls Inc. is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026. At the same time, The Atlanta Voice will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026. 

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