FODAC Collection Event -- a SMASHING SUCCESS!
On July 31st 2021 we held the 8th annual collection event for FODAC (Friends of Disabled Adults and Children) and it was a SMASHING success by any standards! Rotarians and friends from North Atlanta, Dunwoody, Stone Mountain, Tucker, Emory Druid Hills, and Atlanta Metro Rotary Clubs, along side Atlanta Metro Rotaract Club and Atlanta Arirang Lion's Club members gathered for a light breakfast and organizing on the patio of the 57th Fighter Squadron Restaurant in Chamblee.
After event coordinator and North Atlanta Rotary (NAR) Club Past President Ralph Sims divided us into our respective groups and gave us our maps of pick up locations, we disbursed into the community to collect an estimated $318,000 worth of medical equipment and supplies! The largest haul yet for this event.
Many thanks go to our event coordinator Ralph Sims for his tireless efforts to organize us and all of the volunteers who worked so hard on this very hot day, and to the community members who so generously donated these items to FODAC for refurbishment and redistribution before being distributed back out to those in need. Several motorized scooters, hospital beds, electric and manual wheel chairs, walkers, canes, and various medical supplies were among the items collected in all of the donated vans, trucks and trailers. Thank you to the 57th Fighter Squadron Restaurant for use of their patio for breakfast and their back parking lot for our staging area. It truly took a village, and we are grateful to everyone who participated, and to the support of the communities from downtown Atlanta to Roswell, to Milton, to Lawrenceville to Stone Mountain. THANK YOU!
Volunteers representing 6 Rotary Clubs, 1 Rotaract Club and 1 Lion's Club gathered on the patio of the 57th Fighter Squadron Restaurant and prepared for a day of service!
Event coordinator and NAR PP Ralph Sims organizing and thanking the volunteers before dispatch into the community.
FODAC Executive Director Chris Brand thanking the volunteers for coming out and sharing FODAC's mission and accomplishments, all for the benefit of those in need.
North Atlanta Rotary event coordinator PP Ralph Sims thanking Natalie Barot of Emory Druid Hills Rotary Club who came through with several vehicles used for donation pickups, as well as thanking all volunteers for their generous donations of time, trucks, trailers and vans used to pick up medical equipment from the community-wide donors. It took all of you!
Kay and NAR PP/PE Mike Emanuele, NAR PP Jon Yaeger, NAR President Christopher Drew and Jon's friend Chris Flowers enjoying fellowship at breakfast.
Ron Sato and other members of the Metro Atlanta Rotaract Club gathering at breakfast.
NAR PP/PE Mike Emanuele, Camille and NAR PP Kent Gipson
Dunwoody Rotary Club members enjoying breakfast and fellowship.
Rotaractor Alex West and others at the donation drop off site.
We are so very thankful for all the Rotaractors who participated with us this year!
Kay and NAR PP/PE Mike Emanuel and Metro Atlanta Rotaract and Atlanta Arirang Lion's volunteers returning with a trailer and car full of donations!
Alex West and other volunteers in action unloading medical equipment and supplies.
NAR PP Kent Gipson, NAR PP Garry Guan, Metro Atlanta Rotaractors, family members and FODAC staff ready to unload a truck full.
Volunteers unloading a lift power chair and batteries, among other donated items.
Rotarians from Dunwoody and Emory Druid Hills, Rotaractors from Metro Atlanta, and Chris Brand and Ron of FODAC -- happy to return with a load of donated medical equipment.
Volunteers unloading donations of medical equipment, supplies & medical food, scooters and beds.
Rotarians from Emory Druid Hills and Rotaractors from Metro Atlanta were very well represented, shown here along with Chris Brand, FODAC Executive Director and PP of Stone Mountain Rotary Club.
FODAC is a non-profit organization located in Stone Mountain; it provides a place for collection and refurbishment, and then redistribution of used medical equipment and supplies to members of the local community as well as those in need across the country and internationally. Their mission: "With a strong network of volunteers and partners, FODAC provides refurbished equipment and services for adults and children with disabilities to improve their overall quality of life. Over the years, our model to assist individuals with disabilities has remained the same: to provide free or low-cost wheelchairs and other home medical equipment (HME), vehicle and home adaptations and more. Above all, our staff is like a family that works together to make every day a little easier, and a little more affordable, for people in need."
www.FODAC.org