Youth Shelter Moves to Tucker, Needs Appliances After Theft

Thieves broke into the new digs of Young People Matter -- formerly of Lithonia -- a few months ago, taking copper pipes and more.

  An outreach program and emergency shelter for homeless youth is in need after moving from Lithonia to a spacious new facility in Tucker. Over the last several days, Young People Matter (YPM) has moved into a former women's outreach center. The location has just about everything YPM could ask for: it's spacious inside, has a great back yard, and lots of potential. But it also has scars from a break-in, which happened months before YPM moved in. The thieves caused lots of water damage, which has been repaired, and more. In addition to the heating and cooling systems, the perpetrators made off with the kitchen appliances, and copper pipes, Joye said. "They took everything including the kitchen sink," said Simone Joye, executive director of …

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Local Organizations Participating in 'Georgia Gives Day' Today

An outreach for homeless youth and animal rescue group are among those hoping to raise funds during today's special effort.

Volunteer Opportunity: Biffle Park Cleanup

A weekly list of local volunteer and donation opportunities.

The following are local volunteer opportunities and donation needs: Help Needed -Volunteers DONATION OPPORTUNITIES See also: Volunteer Tutors, After School Mentors, Mentors Needed Host Families, Visitor Center Volunteers Needed Help Needed: Clubhouse Buddies, Compost Demos

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Help Needed: Overnight Shelter Volunteers, Knapsacks

A weekly list of local volunteer and donation opportunities.

The following are local organizations' needs for volunteers or donations. The opportunities are in Stone Mountain and areas nearby. If your organization would like to be included, please e-mail the information to: Leslie.Johnson@patch.com. Volunteer Opportunities Grant writer, overnight helpers: Young People Matter (YPM), which runs a shelter for homeless youth in Lithonia, has several opportunities for people to be of assistance. It needs someone to help its administrative team apply for grants and overnight volunteers (must be 25 years old) to work in the shelter 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., even just one night a month. Volunteers working directly youth need to go through a criminal background check and fingerprinting. Here are details on YPM's …

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Help Needed: Tutors, Funds for School Supplies

A weekly list of volunteer and donation opportunities in and around Stone Mountain.

The following are local organizations' needs for volunteers and donations. The opportunities are in Stone Mountain and areas nearby. If your organization would like to be included, please e-mail the information to: Leslie.Johnson@patch.com. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Tutors: Refugee Family Services' (RFS) summer camp needs one-to-one volunteer tutors on Mondays and Wednesdays, the group said on its Facebook page. A tutor works with one refugee child who is struggling academically or socially, RFS said. The Stone Mountain-based organization will provide training for tutors and "an engaging curriculum for you and your match," it said. Those interested should e-mail rfsvolunteers@refugeefamilyservices.org Helping the homeless: Young People …

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Help Needed: Landscape Enthusiasts, Farmers Market Volunteers

A weekly look at local volunteer and giving opportunities.

The following are local organizations' needs for volunteers or donations. Most of the opportunities listed are in Stone Mountain, or not too far away. If your organization would like to be included, please e-mail the information to: Leslie.Johnson@patch.com. Help with landscaping: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, the Hindu place of worship in Lilburn, could use volunteers to help with tasks such as landscaping, said its president, Harry Patel, who owns Kids R Kids off Rockbridge Road near Five Forks Trickum Road in Stone Mountain. If interested, e-mail: info.atlanta@usa.baps.org. Help with a farmer's market: The Clarkston Farmers Market, which has its kickoff celebration on Sunday, May 20, 11:30am - 3:30pm  at the Clarkston Community Center …

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Homeless Youth Outreach Distributed Food, Survival Kits

Young People Matter held its 'Takin It to the Street' effort March 31-April 1.

Local nonprofit organization Young People Matter distributed 82 survival kits, 126 food packs and got the word out about assistance to 84 young people during its 48-hour "Takin' It To the Street" effort March 31-April. According to its report on the outreach event, volunteers went to MARTA train station routes; Hartfield Jackson Airport; the downtown Atlanta area; Underground; Woodruff Park; Centennial Olympic Park and surrounding areas; Motel 6 on Lawrenceville Highway; Metropolitan Parkway; Rockdale and Newton counties; McDaniel Street in Mechanicsville; the West End Area; Gateway Center 24/7 Shelter; and Atlanta Union Mission. A total of 26 people, staff and volunteers, participated in the outreach, the report said.

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Organization 'Takin It to the Street' To Find Homeless Youth

Young People Matter's 48 hours of public street outreach begins Friday, March 30 through Sunday, April 1.

Young People Matter starts its 'Takin It to the Street' public outreach this Friday, March 30, through Sunday, April 1. Volunteers are needed to help find runaway, homeless and street youth in metro Atlanta during 48 consecutive hours, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. The effort will span six counties, including DeKalb, the non-profit organization said in press release. Young People Matter provides a place for these youth through its Open Hearts Youth Shelter in Lithonia near Stone Mountain, as well as other services. In the release, YPM executive director Simone Joye said the point of it is "to find youth who are ashamed to admit they are homeless or they have given up hope of anyone wanting them."  "We are going to the streets, shelters, …

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