Acts of Kindness: Stories of the community helping one another during the pandemic

In times like these, the good in people shines.

Since March 2020, the MDJ has been reporting on acts of kindness, goodwill and generosity during the coronavirus pandemic.

If you know of an instance of benevolence — on any scale — and are willing to share with MDJ readers, tell us your story.

Send an email to mdjnews@mdjonline.com with the subject line: Act of Kindness.

August 9

On July 22, about 30 students from the Brigham Young University-Idaho Symphonic Band helped Marietta-based MUST Ministries and C.H.O.I.C.E. distribute food to over 300 families in need in southwest Atlanta.

The students are on a tour of the Southeast where they will be playing benefit concerts as they travel and will also be providing service to local charities.

The BYU-Idaho students and their director, Diane Soelberg, worked with MUST Ministries to fill cars with fresh produce, meat, dry products and dairy to assist families with their food needs, while C.H.O.I.C.E. provided social media links to help the families know how to prepare healthy meals with the items they received from the MUST Mobile Pantry. Another group of about 10 band members worked at MUST's Donation Center packing over 600 breakfast and lunch kits for their Summer Lunch program.

The students smiled all morning and reported that they enjoyed their time helping others. Their director said that the day was 'a true delight' as she watched her students working together and interacting with people they do not know and making an impact for these families. This morning of service was coordinated by JustServe.

For more information, visit JustServe.org.

August 8

Sweetwater Mission hosted the Aug. 5 Meals On A Mission event at The Waverly Mobile Home Park off Discovery Boulevard. Volunteers from the First Christian Church of Mableton and South Cobb Lions Club assisted with loading the cars that drove through. We were able to provide 168 families with canned/dry food, Starbucks coffee, frozen pizza, Post Cereal, Hello Fresh side dishes and Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough tubs for dessert. The car line moved smoothly while the volunteers used teamwork to load the cars efficiently. We had a great time as we served our neighbors.

The Friends of Mableton along with the South Cobb Lions Club removed 20 bags of litter from Clay Road, Mableton Square and nearby areas on Aug. 6. We had lots of fun and got a late start because we wanted to catch up with each other.

If you and your friends are interested in the Adopt-A-Mile program, please reach out to Dawn at keepcobbbeautiful@cobbcounty.org. She will explain everything and provide you with all of the tools that you need.

-Barry Krebs

August 5

The First Christian Church of Mableton hosted the Aug. 4 Meals On A Mission event whereby 126 families were served with frozen pizza, canned/dry food, Hello Fresh side dishes, Post Cereal, Hillshire Farms Snacked! kits and scrambled egg kits as well as tubs of cookie dough. This food was supplied and delivered by Sweetwater Mission. In addition to our normal volunteers from church and the Lions Club, we had a couple new volunteers, Rica and Tom. They both did a terrific job. Executive Minister Barry Smith inspired us prior to the food drive with his words of wisdom: "When you do things for other people, you're serving Jesus too. It may be hard and it might cost you something. You might not get a thank you. But that shouldn't matter because it is pleasing to God."

-Barry Krebs

August 3

On July 30 at the Iora on Floyd Road parking lot, near Publix, Sonder Health Plans hosted a Senior Citizens Extravaganza whereby over 230 senior citizens from across South Cobb were in attendance to see all of the newest products and services available to improve their lives. In addition, local civic organizations such as the Lions Club showed up to engage the visitors. There was lots of food, drinks and entertainment for everyone. It was a great way to spend an afternoon getting to know our senior neighbors a little better. We appreciate Mickey Rivera for inviting us to attend. It was a wonderful time for everyone involved.

-Barry Krebs

August 2

It was a great day in the Riverside/Austell community on July 28. We Thrive on Riverside Renters Association hosted a National Night Out against crime featuring a kickball tournament with the Cobb County Sheriff's Office and Cobb County Police Department. Community members enjoyed complimentary Kona ice snow cones and visited with the Cobb Mobile Library, South Cobb Lions Club and received resources.

-Monica DeLancy

August 1

Sweetwater Mission hosted the July 29 Meals On Mission at The Waverly Mobile Home Park serving 166 families with canned/dry groceries Hello Fresh fixings, Edwards Pies, deli-style brownies, Post Cereal and Kenny's Key Lime Pies. We had a new volunteer named Mark who was awesome along with regular volunteers Tina, Barry with the Lions Club and Neil from Cumberland Christian Church. Thanks to the volunteers, everything went smoothly and the wait time was minimal.

Lions Clubs of District 18-L appreciate Maximum Impact Love inviting us to conduct over 50 eye screenings at the Victory Outreach Church on July 30. They had planned on giving out around 3,500 book bags filled with school supplies. They had lots of good Christian entertainment, a prayer area, inflatable rides, fantastic food, snow cones, snacks and drinks. In addition to the Lions Club eye screenings, doctors and nurses were on hand to screen for diabetes, blood pressure and dental problems. Free haircuts and arts & crafts as well as face painting were available too. It was a great time for everybody. As we were working, Gregg Ervin's name came up often from people who remembered that he initially got us involved with this wonderful group of volunteers. We also appreciate Sweetwater Mission for providing transportation of needed supplies.

The First Christian Church Of Mableton hosted the July 28 evening Meals On A Mission event where 128 families were supplied with canned/dry groceries, Oscar Meyer lunch meat, Edwards deserts, deli style brownies, Post Cereal, Hello Fresh side dishes and Kenny's Key Lime Pies. We very much appreciate Sweetwater Mission for providing the food and the volunteers from the Austell Community Taskforce, LinkedUp Church and South Cobb Lions Club. Executive Minister Barry Smith encouraged all of the volunteers to serve with love and be a blessing to those people that we serve. Let them know that they are loved was the assignment for Thursday night and going forward.

- Barry Krebs