Annabelle Walden
Annabelle Walden just celebrated her 7th birthday but instead of asking for toys, she wanted to use her special day as an opportunity to give back. She asked for dog toys and food for her birthday and donated all of the items to the Columbia County Animal Services.
Columbia County Animal Services is located at 1940 William Few Pkwy. For more information, to make a donation, or to adopt a new pet, call (706)541-4077 or visit columbiacountyga.gov/community/animals.
Taji Johnson
Taji's Tents
Taji Johnson, a nine year old boy from Trenton, started Taji’s Tents wanting to help others in need. After volunteering and serving food to the homeless, he was heartbroken and wanted to help. “I always tell my children that if you see something you don’t like, we do something about it,” says Chemikia Johnson, Taji’s mom. “I thought, and thought, and thought, and then I came up with tents to protect them from stuff like fires, floods, and rain,” says Taji. Taji began raising money to purchase the tents and now has bought over $13,000 worth of tents!
Follow Taji’s Tents on Facebook or Instagram @tajis_tents to learn more or to make a donation.
Michelle Derrick
Hope for Hooves Rescue
Hope for Hooves Rescue is an equine and other farm animal rescue that was started by Michelle Derrick. “Once I had the rescue up and running, the Lord began giving me ideas of how to raise money to support the rescue and one of those was the Resonating with the Rescues program,” she explains. “It is a ninety-minute one-on-one mentorship program that provides a safe place for children to bond with the animals and with one of our facilitators,” says Michelle. Children that are autistic, abused, or rescued from trafficking are able to visit the farm and help care for the animals.
For more information on programs offered, volunteer opportunities, and details on supporting the rescue, visit hopeforhooves.org or follow Hope for Hooves Rescue on Facebook.
Robin Guerrero
Katherine’s Way
Offered through 143 Ministries, Katherine’s Way serves women battling addictions. The outreach includes an intensive 90-day recovery program followed by the opportunity for women to live in a transitional home for six to nine months. However, many women cannot afford the cost of the program on their own. “What we find is when women are ready to come to treatment, there are no funds to send them,” shares Robin. “Families are often willing to help, but usually they can't because they're left with taking care of the woman’s children.”
A scholarship fund, supported by community donations and the annual Miles of Miracles 5K Color Run fundraiser, helps meet this need. “It's a way for the community to sow into these women because during the program, we equip them to go into the community as functioning people of society,” says Robin. “The very women that they may be sowing into could potentially be an employee or neighbor in their future.”
The Miles of Miracles 5K Color Run is scheduled for August 19, 2023. To register visit active.com or to become a sponsor of the event, visit. 143ministries.org.