Behind the Black Doors - Rick's Story

As soon as we stepped inside and the doors slam behind us it was complete darkness. Rick told us to get out our cell phones and use them as flashlights. He led us to the stairs and we climbed up. Light began to creep in the higher we went. We followed the light to a door. We crossed the threshold and what we saw next changed our perspective in a unique way.

Rick is a good friend of mine that is living homeless in downtown Atlanta. Last week Jared and I had some time before a Project Live Love meeting and decided to visit with some friends. As soon as we parked and started up the street we bumped into Rick. I knew from previous conversations that Rick was living in an abandoned hotel. I asked if he would be willing to take Jared and I on a tour of the building. Once we finished recording the tour, I asked Rick to share some of his story on camera.

I invite you to watch this seven and a half minute video of what Rick had to say. Go behind the doors and see what it is like living homeless in downtown Atlanta.

Charles and Marcus

Yesterday I had some time between meetings downtown. I began driving around trying to visit with some of my homeless friends. I drove to a side of town I had not been to before. It was there that I bumped into two guys I had never met.

Charles and Marcus lived under an overpass off I-20. They were huddled by a bucket campfire when I drove up. I pulled over and got out to go meet them. After talking for a few minutes, I asked if they would be willing to share some of their story on camera.

Filming this world and these people is all very new to me. I have shot only a few short videos in the past. Let me know what you think??? The rain and traffic made a few parts hard to hear… sorry. So… here are their stories.

What A Beautiful Sight? - Atlanta Homeless Connect

That is the sight of several hundred homeless men and women getting connected to resources in Atlanta.

Some time ago a few people from the United Way and the Living Room got together and began talking about bringing a national initiative called Project Homeless Connect to Atlanta. I had the pleasure of attending the initial meeting where this concept was pitched to a group of Atlanta leaders. During the meeting it was decided that we would go forward with bringing this event to Atlanta and thus Atlanta Homeless Connect (AHC) was born.

After several months of hard work from so many, yesterday was the event. It was awesome. Over forty-five different organizations that serve the homeless and poor came together to offer their services on one day. There were housing options, work programs, drug rehab programs, legal aid, HIV/ AIDS testing, mobile medical units, haircuts, phone home stations, and so much more. People came from all over the city to connect with these resources.

Before the event started I was called outside to help keep the line under control because people kept cutting the line. My job then morphed into being in charge of the door and keeping the line calm. I loved this assignment because I got to greet everyone as they came in the event. I got to just hang out and love on these beautiful people.

As people entered through the door, I would ask them why they attended today. Some would say they came to try and get a job or find housing. Others just came for the free lunch and to see what was going on. No matter why the 700+ people came each person was impacted in some why by attending. The overall impact of this day will only be measured in time.

More than 300 volunteers came together to help make the event possible. Thank you to everyone who put their love in action and helped make AHC a reality.

Helping Atlanta Flood Families Day 2

Here are some videos of the great work that is being done to help Atlanta families rebuild and some of their stories.





Day 2 was cut at 2:00 as the rains were causing the water to rise again. We will be putting together some projects over the next few weeks. Please let me know if you would like to join in.

Helping Atlanta Flood Families Cleanup

Today I had the pleasure of serving some families who were in need of some help. They were all victims of the floods that Atlanta experienced earlier this week. A friend of mine, Eric Jones, lives in a neighborhood where many homes were affected by the floods. On Thursday we put the word out on Facebook and some awesome students from Atlanta Bible College answered the call. Here are some of the families’ stories and the work we were able to accomplish.

Last night I took an old white t-shirt of mine and wrote with Sharpie the words LIVE LOVE in big letters across the chest. The question I heard the most today was, “Why are you here helping?” It was awesome to explain to people that I was there because I wanted to show others love in a real way.

We worked for several hours today and only made a dent in the amount of work that needs to be done. Please join us tomorrow as we head back to these families to continue the work we started.

It looks like it is going to rain tomorrow so please come prepared. The details and directions can be found here.

Ways to Live Love to Atlanta Flood Victims

I must admit that as the images came in on my TV screen on Monday and Tuesday I was in a state of shock at what I saw. I could not process that these images were coming from my hometown. In fact, for the first few days I thought that other people would take care of this tragedy and that it would soon pass.

As time went by the reality of what had happened to my friends, family, and neighbors became overwhelming. I could no longer just sit and watch the TV and do nothing to help my community heal. As of yesterday I set out to try and find ways that I could donate my time, talents, and treasures to help the thousands of people who were affected by the Atlanta Floods. I found one small way to help that I shared yesterday, but that was not enough.

Earlier this week I had spoken with my friend Eric Jones who had personally experienced flooding is his house. When he told me of his neighbors whose houses had been flooded so much worse than his own my heart sank.

Now that the reality of what was going on had set in, I picked up the phone and called Eric back to see if I could help. He shared with me that he and his neighbors would be working through the weekend to try and clean up their houses. I told Eric that I would love to come and help. As a result, I am leading a team of people Friday and Saturday to help Eric and his neighborhood clean up from this storm. I would be delighted if you could join me on one of those days. The details are at the bottom of this post.

I am not the only one who had the reaction to help their fellow man. So many others have organized efforts to help their community. Below is a list of every way I know of so far to help. Please find some way to live love in the face of this tragedy.

Project Live Love – We are doing cleanup starting at 10:00 Friday and Saturday. We are meeting at 1160 Windbrooke Dr. Powder Springs, GA 30127. Please wear closed toe shoes, jeans, work gloves and bring a long sleeve t-shirt. Google directions will not work for this one because there are still roads that are closed. Please use the directions below to get there. Send an e-mail to drew@projectlivelove.com if you want to help or if have additional questions.

From 285 - Take South Cobb Dr towards the East West Connector (outside of the perimeter)

L on the East West Connector

L on Powdersprings Rd.

L on CH James Parkway

R on Brownsville Rd.

L on Hiram Lithiasprings Rd.

L on Meadows Rd.

R on Windbrooke Dr. – 1160 Windbrooke Dr.

Reflections of Trinity – Volunteer projects are coming very soon. You can make donations of diapers, clothes, food, gas cards, bottles of water, etc… and they will make sure it gets to those in need. They are located at 4037 Austell Powder Springs Rd. Powder Springs, GA 30127. You can call them at 770-222-6511. They are there from 9:00-6:00pm daily and 1:00-6:00 on Sunday.

Reflections of Trinity will also serve as home base for volunteers in the community. The Salvation Army will be there with hot meals from 1:00-4:00. They will also have clean up kits for volunteers to use on projects.

Additionally, anyone in need can report to Reflections of Trinity for help.

HopeATL.com – This site is amazing!!! It has been put together in only days and has the pulse of how to help people in Atlanta. From here you can find ways to be involved in the relief efforts through four different avenues. Please visit the site.

Kroger/ Salvation Army - Kroger is doing a round up campaign to help those in need. In other words… If your groceries are $25.13 you can choose to round that up to $26.00 and the balance will go to the Atlanta Flood victim’s fund through the Salvation Army. Here are the details.

United Way – For those who are in need they can use the 211 service. Anywhere in Atlanta you can simply dial 211 from your phone and be connected to someone who can direct you to resources.

Red Cross – Find ways to volunteer, donate or give blood through their website.

As I hear of more ways to live love I will try to share them with you.

Atlanta Flood – A Small Way To Help

Words cannot begin to describe the horror that we have been looking at for the past two days on our TV screens. I still cannot believe what I’ve been seeing is real. My family and I were extremely fortunate that our house did not flood. My dad’s basement flooded only a little, but he caught the leak early and was able to save almost everything.

I spoke with one good friend of mine whose entire basement was under water. His house was in the best condition of all his neighbors. At one house in his neighborhood the water was up to the second floor.

As I begin to hear these stories and watch all of the destruction on TV I am moved to do something. My heart is broken for all the people who have lost everything. With all of the widespread destruction where do we begin?

Last night just before I went to bed I saw a story on the news about Clarkdale Elementary School. Of all the coverage I had seen I had not heard about this school. They showed how the water had been up to the roofline. Everything inside was totally lost. All the computers, school supplies, books and more.

This story gripped my heart. So, this morning I went online to see if anyone was helping this school regain all that was lost. I found out that there is an effort at work. 11Alive and School Box are collecting school supplies to help replace all that was lost. From now until Sunday they will be collecting K – 5^th grade items at the five locations listed below. It’s something small, but it is something we can all do to live love today.

Most of all, find a way to live love in this crisis. There are so many in need. Find a family to serve, help a neighbor, volunteer your time, or make a donation. When crisis hits so many ways to live love emerge. Together let’s put love in action and heal Atlanta.

School Box Locations

Austell
3999 Austell Rd.
Austell, GA 30106
(770) 739-2244

Conyers
1486 Dogwood Dr. SE
Conyers, GA 30013
(770) 602-3151

Douglasville
9559 Highway 5
Douglasville, GA 30135
(770) 577-6503

East Cobb
1205 Johnson Ferry Rd.
Marietta, GA 30068
(770) 578-4445

Gwinnett
3865 Venture Dr.
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 497-1005