Notes from Perry Street: A Shout-Out to our local Nonprofits

By JOHN A. WINTERS, Publisher

This is the time of year when many of our local non-profit groups hold their big fundraisers.

Some of them involve running. And not only running, but count as sanctioned races to prove you got up at some ungodly hour to get a cool t-shirt and then, well, run. I prefer those that include a “kid walk” or something like that.

I am simply one who does not care to run as a form of exercise, even if it is for charity, and especially if it is before breakfast.

Now, mention something involving a golf tournament and I am all in. Heck, I will even bring in people to make a foursome or two.

And for others, anything that involves dressing up to the nines? Well our all-in-one Paper Girl/Ambassador at large/marketing guru is your girl, er, woman. The Little Black Dress came out of the womb wearing high heels.

Local non-profits serve a wide mix of needs and were created for many reasons. Some were born of tragedy – a child lost to childhood cancer, or a car accident. Others have a passion to serve a specific need – helping families to adopt, or providing food on the weekend for students who may not have a meal other than at school.

Others raise funds to help with mentoring high schools students to stay in school, focus on after-school programs or provide medical care for the needy.

One of our missions here at Winters Media Publishing is to promote these non-profits not only by covering their events, but offering substantial advertising discounts. We believe great communities focus on those who need help, and Coweta County is a wonderful place to have a non-profit.

And so a big thank you to the organizers and volunteers who make these great events … great. And to all the sponsors, your generosity is appreciated more than ever.

I want to end with a letter from one of our local non-profits. It shows the need, but also how powerful even a small donation can be. And honestly, any leader of any non-profit would say something similar.

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Dear Neighbor,

Today, I am reaching out to you not just as the Executive Director of Bridging the Gap (BTG) Community Outreach, but as someone deeply committed to ending hunger and offering hope to our community. We stand at a critical crossroads: the reality of escalating food insecurity, combined with dwindling resources from our vital retail partners, has placed enormous pressure on our ability to serve.

In 2024 alone, BTG Community Outreach made a profound difference by distributing over 2.3 million pounds of food, assisting 26,783 households, impacting the lives of 34,602 children, serving 23,417 hot meals, and directly supporting 75,396 individuals through our pantry services. The numbers tell a story of a community urgently in need—62% of those we serve are working, retired, or disabled, and nearly half are children under 18. Your generosity is their lifeline.

Remarkably, in 2024, 95 cents of every dollar donated to BTG went directly into our mission of compassion and service—to “Feed, Serve, and Restore.”

But now, the need is greater than ever.

Your financial contribution is crucial. Every one dollar given provides immediate and meaningful relief—delivering 12 pounds of food directly into the hands of those facing hunger. Your support keeps families nourished, strengthens the fabric of our community, and ensures no neighbor faces the painful uncertainty of an empty pantry alone.

Please consider making a generous donation today. With your help, we can ensure that no one in our community is left behind.

Together, let’s transform lives, one meal at a time.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Jamar Joiner

Executive Director

BTG Community Outreach