Thousands of Working Poor, Homeless to Enjoy Hosea Feed the Hungry's 40th Anniversary Thanksgiving Festival of Services Nov. 26

/PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, Nov. 26, the doors of Turner Field will open up to approximately 30,000 working poor and homeless people in the Atlanta area as Hosea Feed the Hungry and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, in association with The Braves Foundation, host the largest one-day sit-down dinner and meals on wheels operation in the nation - the 40th Anniversary Thanksgiving Festival of Services. In addition to serving increased numbers of working poor clients, approximately 20,000 to 25,000 people are homeless in Atlanta, many of whom are expected to participate in this year's Festival. Up to a staggering 60 percent of those individuals are children.

Guests will not only enjoy a hot, home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, but they also will have access to a medical clinic, clothing center, barber and beautician services, entertainment and church services. Because of its focus on youth, HFTH has also created a kids corner where children can enjoy the same services that are being offered to adults. Additionally, HFTH partnered with the Georgia Coastal Southern Christian Leadership Conference to host the first holiday festival in Savannah on Nov. 23.

"Every year, our holiday dinners, which are now being replicated in other cities, represent the hard work of thousands of volunteers who make this happen for the needy in Greater Atlanta," said Elisabeth Omilami, HFTH's executive director. "Because of the economy, rising unemployment rates and the recent September floods around Atlanta, HFTH is serving increased numbers of clients throughout the year who tell us they can't believe they are in our lines. We are dedicated to restoring dignity and stability to all the individuals and families who seek our assistance, but we need the community's continued support."

This holiday dinner season and long into 2010, HFTH expects to feed the needs of up to 250,000 individuals worldwide, an increase of more than 55 percent over last year. Because of the economy, corporate and individual contributions are down 35 percent, while monthly calls for help with human services are up a staggering 45 percent. HFTH is experiencing the largest increase in clients in the history of the organization. Between Jan. 1 and Nov. 24, 2008, it helped approximately 5,370 individuals with the human services it provides every day like rent assistance, help to pay utilities, food boxes, counseling, employment services and help finding temporary housing. During the same period in 2009, more than 6,600 walked through HFTH's doors and received services.

"We are not waiting or depending on those corporations who will not help us, or the government to rescue us," added Omilami. "We are inviting the community, the city, the state - all of our partners to rally together so that we can start rescuing ourselves now and to start preparing for future challenges now."

Embracing the future

HFTH operates on an annual budget of $1.5 million but needs $3.5 million to keep up with the growing numbers of families and individuals who need its help, and only 20 percent of that is administrative. All other funding goes directly to client services.

The Atlanta-based nonprofit subsists solely on financial and material donations from corporations and individuals. While HFTH is ready to meet the challenges in the New Year, it also needs the community to contribute more than ever to its cause.

"Beginning this year, everything we do must be geared towards transforming the economic and physical lives of the people we serve," Omilami said. "From the creation of our new Case Management Department to developing our housing component, HFTH is re-defining our mission."

Additionally, HFTH is connecting with the community more than ever by embracing technology to make it easier for people to receive vital information on its needs and to make financial contributions. These include:

-- Texting HFTH (space) (personal e-mail address) to 69302 to
automatically be added to HFTH's database to receive up-to-date
information
-- Going to Shop.hoseafeedthehungry.com e-commerce site to make food
purchases, support various services or to buy HFTH merchandise
-- Following Hosea Feed the Hungry on Facebook and Twitter


HFTH's valued community partners will ensure that it continues serving those in need for another 40 years. Everyone can make a difference in helping those in need, no matter how large or small a contribution.

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511 Fields Record Number of Holiday Calls

The Georgia Department of Transportation broke a few records over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend when the 511 traveler information system fielded 71,734 calls. The service received 19,203 calls the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, with 10 percent of callers requesting live operator assistance. The Sunday after Thanksgiving, 511 received 33,624 calls, with 12 percent requesting live support. Over 11,000 calls came in just between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“This is a huge increase from last year’s same-day record of 13,915 calls,” said Anthony
Bradford, who manages Georgia DOT’s Transportation Management Center (TMC) in Atlanta,
the headquarters of 511 and NaviGAtor, Georgia’s Intelligent Transportation System. “It is a true
testament to the quality and dependability of the 511 service, and to the TMC’s dedication to
providing timely and accurate travel information to the traveling public.”

“The 511 operators are the unsung heroes of the Department,” said DOT Commissioner Gena
Evans. “While most of us are at home with our families, they work tirelessly behind the scenes to
ensure the safety of Georgia’s motorists. They’re a vital part of our operation, and deserve
special recognition.”

The free, one-stop phone service provides statewide traffic conditions, route-specific information and estimated travel times within metro Atlanta. Callers can also access transit providers, major airports, rideshare organizations, tourism information and 511 systems in surrounding states.

The week of Thanksgiving ranks among the busiest travel periods of the year, when travelers
take to the highways and skyways en masse. For those preparing to fly, 511 connects callers to
airports in Atlanta and Savannah for information on parking, delays or connections to carriers.
An automated voice recognition system guides the service, but callers can also reach live
operators to report accidents or congestion, request HERO assistance or obtain additional
information.

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Shop Smart this Holiday Season

It starts soon after the Thanksgiving turkey and pumpkin pie are gobbled down, the football games are over and the family is headed home. That is when serious shoppers – with adrenaline pumping - sort through all the advertisements to plan for the big after-Thanksgiving-Day sales.
More than ever, it is important to shop smart. That means developing a sound spending plan. With economic conditions still shaky, now is not the time to pile up a lot of holiday debt. Know how much money you can spend. To avoid problems in 2009, limit your spending to the cash you have set aside for the season.

Think creatively. Everyone is tightening their belts this year. Remember, it is the thought that counts. Homemade gifts, food, clothing or crafts may be appreciated more than a mass-produced item purchased at a local store.

Give the gift of time. Things like babysitting, car washing or housecleaning may also be well received.

When you get to the stores, keep your spending plan and shopping list in hand. Think carefully about each and every purchase. Avoid deciding on an item in the spur of the moment.

Take your time. Think about your needs and the amount of money you have.

Use the ads that appear in newspapers and mailboxes around Thanksgiving to plan your purchases. Compare offerings to find the best values. Once you decide on a particular item, compare features, quality, prices, installation fees, delivery charges and service rates.

Sometimes the cost to use and maintain the item makes selecting a more expensive model the cheaper option.

Look in the newspaper classified section for items, too. Person-to-person buying often saves money.

Running from store to store may not be feasible. Instead of driving around town, use the phone and Internet to find information, particularly for gifts you will send out of town. You may find that it is cheaper to order the desired items and ship them directly to the recipients.

Shopping online can also be an easy way to locate special or unique gifts. Do be careful. Use a secure browser. Shop with companies you know and keep your passwords creative and private. Pay particular attention to shipping charges. Be sure to print out and keep records of your purchases.

With a possible recession looming, retailers started sales earlier this year than in years past. That means plenty of bargains, but you will need to shop carefully to find them. As the holidays approach, many will slash prices so the best deals may be still to come. Waiting for last-minute price cuts makes sense for items that are not in short supply.

This might be the year to avoid buying gift cards. If you buy a gift card at a store that then goes out of business, you may as well have flushed your money down the toilet. If you do buy gift cards, make sure you understand the terms. Some companies begin charging fees after a relatively short time. These fees can eat up the value of the card.

Bargains that sound too good to be true are usually just that. Expect a fair and reasonable price for goods and services. Read labels, seals, tags and instruction booklets.

Ask questions. Get the facts before you buy. Find out what is promised, who stands behind the promises and what you must do to benefit from any warranty.

Your holiday spending plan is not just about the gifts you plan to buy. Remember to allow funds for parties, greeting cards, charitable giving and clothing to wear to holiday functions, along with other things that make the holiday season joyful for you and others.

By Michael Rupured
University of Georgia

Michael Rupured is a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension financial management specialist with the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

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