Sharing the Love in Acworth, Georgia

Anytime an entire community bands together to help each other in a real and tangible way, it’s special. And that’s exactly what you helped the residents of Acworth, Georgia do this past July.

For the second summer in a row, you made it possible for Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions to partner with Greater Church to hold a back-to-school block party in a low-income area. We invited the entire community to come and receive hot food, bags of groceries, school supplies, medical and dental checkups, and so much more.

“Everything is absolutely free!” Lead Pastor Cheno Echevarria said excitedly. “Everything from bookbags and school supplies to medical and dental care. We have two mental health physicians that are on the property, and we have an entire bus where we provide medical and dental checkups, check blood pressure, conduct testing, and so many different things. And then a plethora of businesses that are here, they're not selling anything. They're just providing gifts for the community. …Hand of Hope has been a huge part of it.”

Throughout the day, a line of over 1,800 residents wrapped around the building, waiting to be able to join in on the fun. Before the event was over, we handed out 600 50-pound bags of groceries, as well as more than 1,000 bookbags and school supplies.

“It has a major impact on this community,” said local resident Destiny Boswell, who came to get school supplies for her children. “This is a very low-income kind of area and there's lots of families that can benefit from this.”

Greater Church has been able to reach deep into some of the most depressed areas in the community. “Down the street we have several trailer home parks with over 600 trailers in there,” said Pastor Cheno’s wife, Lydia. “And we've just gone in there and just started to love on that community and just gather people here.”

In addition to the practical applications, what would a block party be without a little fun? Local businesses provided face painting, a play area, and a petting zoo for the youngest members of the family, as well as cotton candy and popcorn stands, live music, and giveaways from the stage.

“[It’s] fun for the kids, of course! And there's plenty here for them,” attendee Torrie Wilson said. “I came last year. … As a single mother, having that support, the community help, it means a lot—it really does!”

Asia Swinger was another second-year visitor. The previous summer her van had broken down in the church parking lot when she had arrived with all five of her children, hoping to receive food and school supplies—but she ended up with so much more.

“I was trying to hold back the tears,” she said, not wanting her kids to worry. “I only had $40 and so I did not know how I was going to get home,” she explained. But then a volunteer approached her. “She said, ‘We're going to get you home!’ And they did!” Together with the help of volunteers, Pastor Cheno and his family pushed the van onto a boat trailer that another volunteer had brought, towing it all the way back to Asia’s home, 45 minutes away, so she could get it fixed nearby.

Since then, she has been attending Greater Church with her children. And this year she returned to pay back her gratitude by volunteering at the same event that had helped her.

“The fact that the pastor still remembered my name after our brief interaction, that meant everything to me,” Asia explained. “I am volunteering because I want to help—I want to be able to give back.”

Together, with our amazing friends and partners like you, we were able to help make this all possible. Through your help, we can reach out into communities just like this one, offering practical help and hope to those in need.