Restoring Families and Changing Lives

Family Life Restoration Center, is a non-profit organization with a mission that is dedicated to educating, feeding, clothing, and sheltering families in need.  FLRC is dedicated to the hearts and minds of those in need and is a proven organization that celebrates the gift of giving.  For the last fourteen years, we have continually provided assistance to those in need throughout Cobb County and the greater Atlanta metropolitan area.  As an organization, we have been able to assist the needs of thousands of people, needs such as but not limited to: emergency food, emergency clothing, hot lunch, hot showers and an array of shelter and medical resources. FLRC not only provides help for the emergency situations of life, but also is dedicated to the daily developmental growth of the children and families of those we serve.  We provide a full family fitness health center, a full service computer room for work force development assistance and free public community access for internet service. The demand for daily developmental growth is high in our communities. It takes a lot of hard work to fill such a high demand.  Our staff is made up of 90% volunteer and community service workers. Our dedicated staff members strive to provide exceptional, quality and caring service to all who utilize FLRC.

IMPACT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF THE ECONOMY 

With each day, the current state of the economy inflict more pain across our community. Schools across the state are closed, restaurants and other businesses are closed or have minimal operations and countless workers face the reality of layoffs, furloughs, significantly reduced or loss wages and missed paychecks. With that being said the demand for human services has grown exponentially beyond our resources. As a food bank our shelves have become bear with the increase in the number of clients. Though some individuals are still employed, they are experiencing cuts in pay & decrease in hours. Meanwhile, the kids are at home and their food bills are increases along with their utilities. Many families we serve were already living paycheck to paycheck this just put them closer to a homeless situation, yet others need shelter. As an organization we have to remember that for some kids the only meals that they received were the ones at school. So we had to increase our giving to make sure we cover the kids that otherwise won’t have a meal. It has been nearly impossible to keep up with the demand because our main food supplier at one time was unable to fulfill orders. We are looking for additional resources to continue our efforts, and to restock our shelves as we provide complete nutritional meals to families in need. In accordance to health and wellness guidelines, we are grateful to be able to provide hot meals or hot showers for homeless individuals. We are constantly trying to strategically come up with safe ways to meet this demand with jeopardizing the safety of our staff. We have seen in increase in homeless individuals here in our area walking around checking garbage bins for food and living behind closed business not being able to wash up. The usage of our showers was a means for them to stay clean, stop the spread of COVID-19, RSV and other viruses and to keep up with their personal hygiene and build self-esteem. We have learned that the simple gift of a hot shower along with some food and clean clothes can contribute to that person having a better day.

Some of the needs that our organization has come face to face with.
⦁ We have seniors who are on fixed income having to tussle with the decision of “do I pay for my medicine or do I pay for food.” FLRC gives them the option to come and get some food that would last for one week and purchase their medicine.
⦁ We have another single mother that has lost her job and she was able to secure finances for this month to take care of her rent and utilities but she is looking next month square in the face with no options.
⦁ We have a single father that has custody of his daughter that is sleeping in his car and will not be allowed in a shelter with her because of shelter guidelines. He is in need of financial assistance for housing.
⦁ We have a father who is the primary source of income for his family that has been furloughed and the need for food, rental assistance and gas for vehicles are all essential as he tries to keep his family afloat.
⦁ The schools within this district are primarily Title 1 schools and most of the students are on free and reduced lunch and this crisis has put families in a state of panic having to supply these additional meals throughout the day.  

In 2023, we provided over 12000 prepackaged food boxes, 6500 hot meals, 2000 Thanksgiving Meals, 250 hot showers, clothing for 2500 individuals, 450 toys for kids and 180 seniors with an evening of love for Christmas. From 2012 -2017 we provided emergency shelter for 375 individuals.  We are working to get our 19 bed shelter back open in the South Cobb area.  More families than ever are experiencing homelessness. It is troubling to see cars in the parking lot of Walmart after hours that serve as a safe place for families to sleep. Children washing up before school in QT gas stations and fitness clubs. And we have to turn most away, and we have 19 unused beds that can be a safe haven for families in need.