Atlanta, GA, August 26, 2011 – Overcoming homelessness goes far beyond finding a roof over one’s head. Atlanta Mission, a long-time provider of services for the homeless, strives for “healthy independence” for its clients, created through personal development, including health and wellness education. Atlanta Mission is working with ARAMARK, the global professional services company, to revitalize The Shepherd’s Inn for the homeless and host a Health and Wellness Fair for community residents.
The partnership is part of ARAMARK Building Community, the company’s signature philanthropic and volunteer initiative, which enriches the lives of families by strengthening local community centers. ARAMARK develops long-term partnerships with organizations like Atlanta Mission to improve facilities, prepare youth and adults for careers and connect them to the workforce, and encourage healthy lifestyles through health and wellness education and awareness.
“People come to Atlanta Mission in very broken and vulnerable places. In addition to providing food and shelter, Atlanta Mission works with partners across the city to provide jobs, skills and healthcare that lead to healthy independence. We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with ARAMARK for providing information and tools that will help lead these men and women to restoring long-term physical health,” said Atlanta Mission president and CEO Jim Reese.
The relationship began about two years ago, when ARAMARK volunteers revitalized Atlanta Mission’s My Sister’s House for women, and has continued with a broad array of programs.
“ARAMARK is excited about the ongoing partnership with Atlanta Mission,” said ARAMARK’s Rich Johns, District Manager, Sports and Entertainment Southeast. “We connect our expertise to community needs, and we know that the Mission will not only benefit from the work to improve their facility, but also from the nutrition, wellness and food preparation information our experts can share with this community.”
Community Health Garden Central to Improvements
On Friday, August 26 a team of ARAMARK volunteers will enhance the center’s facilities by creating a community food and flower garden, improving the Inn’s kitchen facilities, and building a shed and compost/recycle bins.
Health and Wellness Fair Features Healthy Cooking Demonstrations
On Saturday, August 27 ARAMARK is the presenting sponsor for the Atlanta Mission Health and Wellness Fair for more than 400 community residents. The company will host an ARAMARK Building Community Eat Smart Zone where expert chefs will host healthy cooking and kitchen safety demonstrations. Other education and awareness programs will be onsite including Georgia Preventive Health Care blood pressure and BMI screenings and St. Joseph’s Mercy’s Mobile Clinic.
ARAMARK Building Community supports the important role community centers play in strengthening communities and families. The company provides a range of resources including grants, volunteers and in-kind contributions. By the end of 2011 ARAMARK Building Community will be in more than 50 cities impacting more than 2.5 million individuals and families in the US and abroad. Visit ARAMARK Building Community on Facebook.
About Atlanta Mission
The city’s largest and longest-running provider of homeless services, Atlanta Mission transforms, through Christ, the lives of those facing homelessness. Established in 1938, Atlanta Mission provides overnight shelter, job attainment programming, long-term residential discipleship programming and transitional housing for more than 950 homeless men, women and children daily. Atlanta Mission works with individuals to understand what problem brought each person to one of its four facilities, The Shepherd’s Inn, My Sister’s House, The Potter’s House and Fuqua Hall, and helps create solutions that take the appropriate next step towards healthy independence.
For more information about Atlanta Mission, visit www.atlantamission.org or call 404-588-4000.
About ARAMARK
ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. The company is recognized as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute, as the industry leader in FORTUNE magazine's "World's Most Admired Companies," and as one of America's Largest Private Companies by both FORTUNE and Forbes magazines. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 255,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at www.twitter.com/aramarknews.
Contacts:
Mary Rucci
215-238-7110
rucci-mary@aramark.com