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Schools

Whiz Kid Collects Supplies for Needy Sandy Springs Kids

Alexis Joy, an 8th grader at Greater Atlanta Christian has partnerned with the Community Action Center and North Atlanta Church of Christ to complete her Girl Scout Silver Award by collecting school supplies.

Name: Alexis Joy
School: Greater Atlanta Christian School
Grade: Rising 8th Grader
Age:
13

Accomplishment: Through her Girl Scout Silver Award project, Alexis Joy is using her church connections and art skills to collect school supplies and backpacks for at least 125 children in the Sandy Springs and Dunwoody area.

Key to Awesomeness:

Alexis is helping area students to be prepared for back-to-school while she earns her Silver Award with the Girl Scouts. The Award requires a 40-hour community service project and is the highest award a Cadette Girl Scout can earn.

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“My mom and I went to the Community Action Center and talked to the director, Ms. Tamara, who told us that there [are] about 250 kids in the Dunwoody-Sandy Springs area that needed assistance with getting school supplies.”

“Ms. Tamara”, Tamara Carrera, is the executive director of the Community Action Center. The CAC was founded in 1987 by 10 area churches. The Sandy Springs/Dunwoody agency focuses on the prevention of homelessness and provides basic needs to local individuals and families. They offer financial assistance, food, clothing, youth programs and adult education, as well as referrals to other agencies.

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With a goal of 125 backpacks and accompanying school supplies, Alexis turned to her church community at North Atlanta Church of Christ and gained their support. Modeled after the Giving Tree and Angel Tree projects common at Christmas-time, Alexis has built a “Toolz 4 School” board on display at the church.

The flat “Tools 4 School” board is decorated as a set of large crayons with the giving items on hooks.  Church members and other donors can select a tag that has the grade level, school and gender of the student, as well as items needed according to their school’s supply lists.

They will then purchase the items and return them to the collection bins at the church later in the month. Alexis will bring the built bags to the CAC during the week of the 18th and 25th so they can be distributed the last week of July and the first week of August.

“I wanted to do something for kids and I knew that the CAC helped hundreds of children in the Dunwoody-Sandy Springs area,” said Alexis. Students from Sandy Springs Middle School, Ison Springs Elementary, Chesnut Charter Elementary, Lake Forest Elementary and Dunwoody Springs Elementary will receive the backpacks and school supplies.

“I’m learning a lot about these kids and it feels amazing to be helping them out," Alexis said.

She has been a member of Girl Scout Troop 24414 since it originated at Vanderlyn Elementary School. Now a rising 8th grader at Greater Atlanta Christian School, her troop has risen to the rank of Cadette.

“I have been with most of these girls since Kindergarten and I enjoy seeing them every two weeks. Also I enjoy helping others," she said.

Aside from Girl Scouting, Alexis enjoys basketball, being with friends, church and modeling. This summer, she has already completed a mission trip to Nashville, Tennessee, visited Panama City Beach and plans to attend two basketball camps.  

How you can help: The “Tools 4 School” Board is currently on display at North Atlanta Church of Christ, 5676 Roberts Drive. School supplies can be brought to the collection bins at the church until the 24th of July.  Donations of school supplies, as well as canned goods and toiletry items, can always be brought directly to the Community Action Center, 1130 Hightower Trail, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Visit www.ourcac.org for a listing of current needs.

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