KK Snyder Archive

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Albany Advocacy Resource Center: Selfless Service

While most of us run through our days trying to complete a never-ending to do list, chances are we have some free time in there somewhere. What we do with that free time, however, could be life changing, for ourselves and for others.

When Millie Turner retired from banking a couple of years ago, she knew sitting home day after day was not going to work for her. So when she was approached about serving as a volunteer with Albany Advocacy Resource Center (AARC), she knew that was her answer.

Today, she volunteers once a week, sometimes twice, at the Albany ARC Adult Day/Independent Living Program, helping people with disabilities tackle a variety of life skills, from balancing checkbooks and housekeeping tasks to personal hygiene and clothing care.

“I thought maybe I could give something back to the community this way,” said Turner. “Funny how God works; instead of me teaching them, they teach me love, understanding and patience.”

Turner said certain consumers, AARC’s name for the physically and mentally challenged people they serve, have specific goals during the time they spend at the center, and she is there to help them meet those goals. From working on math skills and learning to write checks to spelling and reading improvement, she is there to help.

“We do math and she helps us…we go one by one to do an answer. She’s a very good helper,” shared Rhonda Smith, a consumer.

And Turner is not alone. Others volunteer regularly at AARC as well, including April Everett, a hair professional with Fusion Salon & Spa, who began cutting ARC consumers’ hair over a year ago. Everett dedicates one Monday per month – her off day from the salon – to cutting hair free of charge for 10 to 20 consumers.

“I’ve always wanted to give back,” said Everett. “I’m blessed to have a great career. I can’t give all my clients free service, but I wanted to give back in some way.

“It’s an extreme blessing to be able to give to these consumers. They really appreciate it.”

The Day Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Not only does it give the consumers somewhere to go and an opportunity to learn and interact with others, it also provides some relief for their caregivers, said Lou Johnson, community resource coordinator for AARC, who served for years as a volunteer before joining the staff a few years ago.

“It gives all these people a purpose and a wonderful life that they wouldn’t have without it,” she said regarding the center. “I live and breathe it.”

Today, AARC serves more than 1,000 consumers, about 50 of which attend the day program, enjoying leisure activities along with learning life skills such as grooming and cooking. Some arrive by city bus that drops them off just across a side street from the front door, and others are dropped off by their caregivers.

“They would be so miserable and bored,” without this program, said Kaycee Gilliard, director of the day program. “It’s very important for them. It teaches independence and living skills that enable them to live out on their own.”

Some AARC consumers live on their own in apartments, with financial assistance from the organization to meet their needs. Others live in one of five group homes and two apartment complexes operated by AARC. Additional housing is currently under construction to meet the growing needs, she added.

Many AARC consumers are active in Special Olympics, another area where volunteers are invaluable, said Gilliard. “With Special Olympics, we couldn’t do anything without our volunteers. And without the volunteers, many of our clients couldn’t get the services they enjoy. It’s the friendship they gain through our volunteers that is so special.”

AARC is headed by Annette Bowling, who began working with the organization in 1974, when few services were available in the Albany area for people with disabilities. Since then, working hand in hand with other providers, AARC has grown to offer a wide variety of services, including early intervention, pre-school, autism care and job placement programs. In addition, they offer services for parolees and a mental health court.

With the support of a strong board, as well as volunteers offering everything from time and money to clothing and furniture, the dedicated staff of AARC continues to serve this special population. For more information, call (229) 888-6852 or visit them online at www.albanyarc.org.

K.K. Snyder is a freelance writer and editor based in the Albany area. With over 20 years

in the industry, she writes for a number of magazines and newspapers around the country and

has published hundreds of articles, with topics ranging from travel and real estate to art

and personality profiles. In addition, she is the author of Frommer’s Atlanta travel guidebook,

which she rewrites every two years.

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Anchor in a storm

Going home at the end of the day, knowing you’ve made a positive impact in the lives of others, is a very satisfying feeling.

Kenny Phillips, executive director of The Anchorage, an Albany residential drug and alcohol rehab program for men, finds satisfaction in knowing the work he and others do at the facility will have long-lasting effects on not only the men in treatment, but also their families and friends.

Founded in 1953 by the men of Hudson Malone Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church, The Anchorage is a Christian-based treatment program, though not affiliated with any particular denomination or church. The Anchorage initially treated only alcoholism, but in 1981 expanded to include drug addictions, said Phillips.

“We’ve had guys as old as 72,” he said, noting that 18 is the minimum age for treatment. “Black, white, Hispanic, college grads, doctors, lawyers, electricians; across the board, addiction doesn’t have any boundaries and can affect anyone.”

Men from around the country enter the program, which remains non-profit with no government funding to avoid the strings often attached to those dollars, which would prevent them from operating as a faith-based treatment program. With a small staff of five, The Anchorage relies heavily on volunteers and private donations to keep the doors open.

From 5:30 a.m. until nine at night, days are filled with 12-step classes, twice-daily Bible study, individual and group counseling, GED classes and social skills classes, including parenting, anger management and personal finance, most of which are volunteer-led.

“These are all things we think these men are lacking in,” said Phillips, who came to this role after 17 years in law enforcement. “Most of them started drugs or alcohol because of stress, most of which was due to financial difficulty.”

In addition to community volunteers, the facility is also reliant on the skilled labor of the men receiving treatment. From cooking, cleaning and gardening to carpentry, plumbing and landscaping, each man has daily responsibilities to uphold their end of the agreement, as they are not required to pay for treatment. In addition, their skills are often lent to community projects as well, added Phillips.

But it’s not all work and study at The Anchorage. The men also participate in leisure activities, including art and exercise. And there is a small amount of free time on the weekends. “There’s not a lot of time to sit and twiddle their thumbs and be inactive though,” he said.

The client program is four months, followed by an optional six-month aftercare ministry program, during which the client must find employment and continue 12-step and Bible classes. Those who choose to stay at The Anchorage for 10 months boast an 80 percent success rate for at least a year, which is the amount of time they are tracked. Those who remain sober often return to share their stories with clients in the program and frequently contribute financially or in a volunteer capacity.

With a maximum capacity of 55 men, The Anchorage typically carries a waiting list ranging from 10 to 100 names. The waiting list has remained high during the recent economic crisis, as some men turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of coping with lost jobs and financial strain.

“It takes us two to four weeks to get a person in. During that time, we encourage them to get to an (Alcoholics Anonymous) or (Narcotics Anonymous) meeting, somewhere to have some accountability in the waiting period. We also encourage them to get back to church or we can help find one for them to attend in the meantime.”

Usually, by the time a man seeks help at The Anchorage, he’s exhausted all of his resources, said Phillips, adding that in-kind donations of food, paper products, toiletries, stamps and office supplies help fill the gaps of the $318,000 annual budget.

“We’ve gone from mattresses on the floor to a clean, healthy environment,” he continued, noting that it costs about $480 per man per month to provide the program. “This is not the Taj Mahal, but they don’t have to worry about roaches and rats.”

While the physical condition of the facility has improved in recent years, meeting the budget is an ongoing struggle, said Phillips, grateful for the generosity of loyal supporters. He’s embarking on a campaign to encourage each man, woman and child to commit to donating $10 a month for a year.

Coming to The Anchorage after spending years arresting the very type of men he is now helping has been powerful in Phillips’ own life, strengthening his faith and spirit with each man who successfully completes the program.

“Some of these guys truly get it and get out of here and go on with their lives,” he concluded. “I get frustrated with some of it; it’s still a job. But there’s a huge reward in seeing one that does come through here and turn it around.

“We’ve experienced good, bad and all in between, but there’s been a lot of good, that’s for sure.”

For more information about The Anchorage, or to volunteer or make a donation, call 435-5692 or visit www.anchorageofalbany.org.

K.K. Snyder is a freelance writer and editor based in the Albany area. With over 20 years
in the industry, she writes for a number of magazines and newspapers around the country and
has published hundreds of articles, with topics ranging from travel and real estate to art
and personality profiles. In addition, she is the author of Frommer’s Atlanta travel guidebook,
which she rewrites every two years.

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Seeds of recovery

When you have seen rock bottom, a successful recovery becomes that much sweeter.

Women participating in GraceWay Recovery Center’s residential drug and alcohol recovery program have new hope these days thanks to their involvement with The Bread House and Granary in Albany. Those who have successfully completed the first six months of the program at the residential facility are able to make the transition to living on their own in GraceWay’s apartment building. Along with that transition comes the option of working outside the center.

The Bread House provides the perfect environment for these women and two to three report for duty each day. They are tasked with everything from tending the wheat grass grown on site to baking and packaging the fresh baked products, said Jennifer Hanington, 27, manager of The Bread House and former GraceWay resident.

“It just gives them more responsibility and teaches them how to live on their own again as part of the community,” said Hanington, who was addicted to drugs and alcohol for 11 years before seeking help at GraceWay. “It teaches you life on life’s terms.”

GraceWay now operates The Bread House and benefits from all profits made there. Hanington gives each woman working at The Bread House a specific responsibility to tend to every day they work. “When you feel responsible for something you feel important,” she said. “The ultimate goal is for the bread store to sustain GraceWay.”

The Bread House grinds Montana hard, red wheat daily, turning it into healthy products such as bread loaves in a variety of flavors, energy/fiber bars, cinnamon rolls and cookies. In addition, local customers have the benefit of some new products, such as the popular zucchini and pineapple loaf. Freshly milled flour provides vitamin E, B-complex vitamins, fiber and complex carbohydrates, a natural appetite suppressant.

“We continue to experiment with that wonderful flour and tweak recipes to make them healthier,” said Liz Dixon. “You just wouldn’t believe the taste and how it enhances those old time family recipes.”

Just in time for the holidays, and in an effort to “go green,” The Bread House is offering their new jute tote that they will fill with baked goods and ship anywhere in the world.

Products of The Bread House range from $6-$10 and each package includes a scripture, providing a little nourishment for the soul as well, said Hanington, who now lives on her own and is fully self-supporting, having completed the program at GraceWay a year ago.

“For so long we’ve lived so selfishly, thinking it’s all about us and what can I do for me. GraceWay teaches that it’s not all about us, but how God can use us to his purpose,” she said.

GraceWay Wish List 2010

  • 30 twin white sheets
  • 15 twin heavy duty mattress pads
  • 15 white towels
  • 15 white wash cloths
  • 2 Bissell lightweight vacuum cleaners
  • 1 heavy duty shop vac
  • 1 set of commercial pots and pans
  • 1 set of glass bake ware
  • 1 set of baking/muffin cookie sheets
  • 1 electric can opener
  • 1 set of matching coffee mugs
  • A set of 30 dinner glasses
  • Dish rags
  • Dish towels
  • Cleaning rags
  • Toilet paper
  • Paper towels
  • Gain detergent
  • Copy paper
  • Stamps
  • Hewlett Packard 02 all color ink
  • White outdoor chairs
  • Umbrella for picnic table
  • Four white six-foot folding tables
  • In addition to the fresh goods they bake and sell at The Bread House, the women recently began selling their products Thursday through Saturday at Livi & Co, an antique market located at 3105 Ledo Road in Albany.

    The partnership allows for GraceWay women to gain additional exposure to the community, while providing shoppers easy access to the baked products. The women hope to offer sandwich lunches to shoppers at Livi & Co. in the near future.

    Like any non-profit, GraceWay struggles to secure funding each year and the need is always great. Donations are currently down by 60 percent, said Dixon, adding that their top annual fundraiser, a dinner with Paula Deen that nets one-third of GraceWay’s budget, did not take place this year.

    “The local community is tapped, but we’re thankful for everything we’ve been given,” she said, noting that this time of year is peak for the volume of women looking for help with their addictions.

    Out of gratitude for the help they’ve received, current residents have asked donors to forgo the individual gifts often sent to them for Christmas in exchange for items that will benefit the entire facility and future residents.

    Items on their “Ask List” include: 30 sets of white twin bed sheets, 15 heavy duty twin mattress pads, 30 white bath towels and wash cloths, commercial pots and pans, assorted kitchenware and two Bissell lightweight vacuum cleaners. The full wish list is available on their website, www.thebreadhouse.com.

    GraceWay Recovery Center offers a six month to two year residential program for women with drug and/or alcohol addiction. For more information about GraceWay, call (229) 446-7800 or visit them online at www.gracewayrecovery.com.

    The Bread House is at 1902 Dawson Road in Albany. The store is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

    K.K. Snyder is a freelance writer and editor based in the Albany area. With over 20 years
    in the industry, she writes for a number of magazines and newspapers around the country and
    has published hundreds of articles, with topics ranging from travel and real estate to art
    and personality profiles. In addition, she is the author of Frommer’s Atlanta travel guidebook,
    which she rewrites every two years.

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    Girls Inc. awarded

    Girls Inc. members (left to right) Destiny Holmes, Destiny Davis and Jada Cowart work to
    build their robot – Electra Girl – in preparation for the national Robotics Challenge next month.


    Girls Inc. Albany gained national recognition this week when it was named Affiliate of the Year for the second year in a row.

    Staff, board members and Girls Inc. members were on hand for the announcement Monday afternoon. The award follows an intense application process and judging by a non-Girls Inc. panel, said LaKisha Bryant, executive director.

    “This is a very big deal because it’s such a competitive process,” said Bryant. Affiliates are judged on categories including trustee involvement and governance, advocacy and programming.

    “We work hard every day to implement programming for the girls, but the board makes sure we have what we need to do that,” said Bryant.

    While all Girls Inc. affiliates operate under the same quality standards set by the organization, individual affiliates are charged with providing programming and having impact on the communities in which they operate.

    Last year Girls Inc. Albany served about 2,300 girls in Dougherty and Terrell counties in summer, afterschool and outreach programs. During the afterschool program, the girls rotate through classes that focus on science, math, technology, economic and financial literacy, health and sexuality, sports skills, leadership and advocacy and character building.

    “This is the best of behavior change, role modeling and benchmark setting when it comes to the lives of these girls in Dougherty and Terrell Counties,” said Karen Wakeford, board member and past president.

    Girls Inc. serves girls ages 7 to 18. Those who attend the afterschool program in Albany may qualify for transportation. Fees for the five-day program are about $15 per week per girl. Currently, the two Albany centers serve about 125 girls, while another 65 girls attend Girls Inc. programming offered in Terrell County about four times each month.

    “The staff here works ever so hard and are committed to making a difference in the lives of these young ladies,” said Wendy Wilson, board president. “To be recognized for the second year in a row speaks volumes about this affiliate.”

    The “Be a Friend” campaign encourages donors to financially support girls enrolled in Girls Inc. Albany. While any donation amount is accepted, Bryant estimates the cost per girl to be about $500 per year.

    Girls Inc.is a nonprofit organization that inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold. Girls Inc. has responded to the changing needs of girls through research-based programs and public education efforts that empower girls to understand, value and assert their rights. Girls Inc. Albany began serving girls in Southwest Georgia in 1974.

    K.K. Snyder is a freelance writer and editor based in the Albany area. With over 20 years
    in the industry, she writes for a number of magazines and newspapers around the country and
    has published hundreds of articles, with topics ranging from travel and real estate to art
    and personality profiles. In addition, she is the author of Frommer’s Atlanta travel guidebook,
    which she rewrites every two years.

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