State Bank & Trust Company Contributes $6,500 to Help Homeless Babies through Home Atlanta’s Essentials for Young Lives® Drive

ATLANTA - June 11, 2013 – Even in a challenging economy, metro Atlanta area companies, community organizations, and individuals dramatically increased their support of HomeAid Atlanta’s 12^th Annual Essentials for Young Lives® Drive, held April 29 – May 6, 2013 in honor of Mother’s Day.

The leader among the donors was State Bank & Trust Company.  State Bank surpassed last year’s solid performance for the campaign, collecting almost $6,500 from its branch collection centers.  The bank collected more than double the number of diapers they collected from last year, as well as 217 jars of baby food and other critical baby items for distribution to local homeless shelters. State Bank acted as a public collection site at seven branch locations, setting up creative displays, involving employees, customers and the public.  In addition to collection essential items, a large financial donation was contributed.  “State Bank exceeded all expectations and did an incredible job of engaging our clients to participate,” says Dale Boyd, Senior Vice President, Homebuilder Finance Group and a board member of HomeAid Atlanta.  “Our clients wanted to participate.  Giving money proved to be an easy way for those that didn’t get a chance to buy an item to do that.  Using the money contributed, essential items were purchased at Sam’s Club and provided to community organizations.”

“This year’s drive was the most successful to date,” says Jean Hilyard, Program Manager for HomeAid Atlanta. “Overall, more than 76,000 items were collected and shared with partner shelters in the Atlanta area. State Bank & Trust Company, a core supporter, was the largest contributor to the 2013 drive.  HomeAid thanks bank employees Dale Boyd and Melissa Turner for acting as key organizers for the event. HomeAid sincerely appreciates the bank’s employees and clients for their kindness and generosity in assisting homeless babies and their mothers.”

Donations were distributed to local nonprofit organizations serving homeless families, including: Action Ministries (Atlanta), Community Advanced Practice Nurses (Atlanta), Decatur Cooperative Ministry (Decatur), Genesis – A New Life (Atlanta), My House (Cherokee County), Nicholas House (Atlanta), Phoenix Pass (Conyers), Rainbow Village (Duluth), Tapestry Youth Ministries (College Park and Fairburn), and The Drake House (Roswell).

HomeAid Atlanta, established in 2001 as a nonprofit organization working in partnership with the Greater Atlanta Home Builder’s Association, builds and maintains dignified housing where temporarily homeless families and individuals in metro Atlanta can rebuild their lives.  For more information about HomeAid Atlanta, visit www.homeaidatlanta.org.