John Ray

Backpacks of Love serves children and their families who are homeless or otherwise in severe need. Working through school social workers and staff to identify those in acute need, BofL delivers backpacks of food and other essential items to 18 schools in north Fulton and Forsyth Counties. BofL also makes regular deliveries of food and other needed items to Jesse's House, a residential care facility for at risk adolescent women in Forsyth County.

In addition to food items, Backpacks of… Show more

Backpacks of Love serves children and their families who are homeless or otherwise in severe need. Working through school social workers and staff to identify those in acute need, BofL delivers backpacks of food and other essential items to 18 schools in north Fulton and Forsyth Counties. BofL also makes regular deliveries of food and other needed items to Jesse's House, a residential care facility for at risk adolescent women in Forsyth County.

In addition to food items, Backpacks of Love delivers toiletry and other personal care items, as well as school supplies, clothing, and household items for formerly homeless families who are rebuilding their a home environment.

Backpacks of Love operates entirely almost entirely through the stewardship of its sponsors and volunteer labor. Over 240 individual sponsors serve by filling backpacks of food, school supplies, or by making other donations. Four different churches, St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, and Cumming First United Methodist Church, have an organized effort within their churches to assemble sponsors and donations. Additionally, individuals from a variety of area churches, including Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Johns Creek Baptist Church, and North Point Community Church, are active sponsors.

Since inception, Backpacks of Love has delivered over 240,000 pounds of food, school supplies, and other essential items in approximately 12,400 backpacks. Show less

The New Start Entrepreneurship Incubator (NSEI), a program of the Gwinnett County Public Library, supports an often-overlooked group of aspiring entrepreneurs: individuals impacted by incarceration. Founded in 2021 and expanded in 2023, NSEI equips participants with the tools, knowledge, and community they need to launch their own businesses. The program offers monthly in-person classes led by expert presenters, online coursework, and one-on-one mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs. It… Show more

The New Start Entrepreneurship Incubator (NSEI), a program of the Gwinnett County Public Library, supports an often-overlooked group of aspiring entrepreneurs: individuals impacted by incarceration. Founded in 2021 and expanded in 2023, NSEI equips participants with the tools, knowledge, and community they need to launch their own businesses. The program offers monthly in-person classes led by expert presenters, online coursework, and one-on-one mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs. It assumes no prior business experience and directly addresses barriers such as lack of access to technology, housing instability, and societal stigma—challenges that many face after incarceration.

Students are provided with laptops and internet hotspots as needed and are supported by an Outreach Coordinator with a social work background, who helps connect them to community resources. At the end of the program, participants take part in Launchpad, a live pitch event where they present their business ideas to local business leaders for feedback and a chance to win startup funding.

NSEI fosters a safe, inclusive environment where systemically marginalized individuals can pursue entrepreneurship as a viable path forward. This work is especially urgent in Georgia, which has one of the highest incarceration rates in the U.S. and where communities of color—particularly in Gwinnett County—are disproportionately affected by the lasting impact of incarceration. By addressing these barriers head-on, NSEI helps disrupt cycles of recidivism and empowers participants to build lives of purpose, dignity, and economic independence. Show less

The Fund for the Diaconate of The Episcopal Church in the United States is an organization which performs a vital service by assisting deacons - working, retired, in formation or disabled - who have insufficient funds for their needs.