Scott Slade's Georgia

"Meet the people who continue to find a way to get vital nutrition to hundreds of metro Atlanta seniors -- many who depend on Meals on Wheels Atlanta as their only source of food." This week, Scott's speaking with Meals on Wheels Atlanta (MOWA) volunteers Valerie and Dwayne Williams, and MOWA Culinary Director Robert Gerstenecker. How they are managing to prepare and deliver meals to seniors despite skyrocketing fuel and food costs. www.mowatl.org

As the important "Point in Time" Homeless count begins after a weather delay this week, Scott's speaking to journalist Brian Goldstone about his remarkable book, "There Is No Place For Us: Working and Homeless In America." Brian took six years to report and research the book, while basically imbedding with five hidden homeless families in Atlanta. Their search for permanent housing inspires both sympathy and outrage at the factors that deny them a roof of their own, no matter how hard they might work to earn it. While the annual Point in Time count is important, Brian says these hidden homeless families are missed by the annual count that looks for those living on the streets or in shelters; they would fill Truist Park three times over in Georgia alone. "There Is No Place For Us" has been declared a 2025 top ten book of the year by The Atlantic and the NY Times Book Review. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/645871/there-is-no-place-for-us-by-brian-goldstone/

After hearing that Emory University had been awarded an Alzheimer's Foundation grant to explore the effect of music on patients, you have to wonder how even more beneficial playing a musical Instrument could be. Speaking with Maura Nicholson, the executive director of the Frank Hamilton School in Decatur. Founded by folk music pioneer Frank Hamilton ten years ago, the school is dedicated to making playing a music instrument available to anyone willing to work to learn. Frank is 91 now. He still lives in Decatur. And he still shows up to teach and play. He is the last living copyright holder to the classic "We Shall Overcome." Folk music sounds a common thread through American history, and through the lessons at the school and the periodic jam sessions, they are keeping it alive while bringing together musicians of all talent levels. www.frankhamiltonschool.org

This week, Scott's speaking with Mike Mies, the executive director of St Vincent de Paul of Georgia. How volunteers make sure donations to Clark Howard's Christmas Kids campaign make it to thousands of Georgia foster children in time for Christmas. Hear how they make it a year-round mission to ease homelessness, hunger and healthcare deficits (with Georgia's only statewide charitable pharmacy.) And now, a $5 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Family Fund can benefit tens of thousands of homeless Georgia families with everything from emergency shelter to training that can help stabilize a family's income and keep a roof over their heads. St Vincent de Paul touched over 300-thousand Georgians in need in the past year. https://svdpgeorgia.org/

This week, Scott's speaking with long-time Atlanta Journal-Constitution delivery carrier David Neely about the AJC phasing out its print edition after December 31st. After thirty-six years delivering the paper in East Cobb, he figures he's thrown more than two million papers onto yards and driveways, some as heavy as seven pounds. He says he'll miss the printed paper, but he realizes it makes economic as well as technological sense to make the transition. And at 72, after working seven nights a week, he's looking forward to a break!