By: Marissa Rainey

Grady Cares is an organization founded to aid families in the Grady cluster who are struggling. Grady Cares has provided school supplies, food, clothes, and books for families in the Grady cluster.

I have volunteered with Grady Cares all summer, and have helped put together and deliver grocery bags with food in them. We put in foods like bread, peanut butter and jelly, pasta and sauce, cereal, snacks, and canned meat.

Founded by Linda Brenner, a Grady cluster parent, and co-founder, Dr. Besty Bockman, the group originally started with a thrift store to provide clothes for families in need.

The Grady cluster has the highest homeless population in all of Atlanta Public Schools. While there are many affluent families in the Grady Cluster, there is a large amount of people in financial distress.

The group tries to pair up various needs that people have with people who are willing to donate. TGM Bread donates a loaf of bread for each family every other week.

The school’s social workers rely on Grady Cares to provide anything from food to a high chair. Recently, the Springdale Park Elementary School social worker posted a need for clothes for a family, and within two hours, the need was met through Grady Cares.

Because Grady Cares has accomplished so much over the past year, the APS board of education has given Grady Cares accommodation, presented at the last meeting. The link to the video played is below.