About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2025)
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2025 • PAGE 3 & HANGS ON ATL O Welcome Target Volunteers! -(= More than 70 volunteers from Target worked to refurbish the learning center, food pantry, and teen center at Peachcrest Corps in Decatur. Atlanta Peachcrest Corps to celebrate 50 years in south DeKalb with multiple events BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM A nonprofit that has been supporting local families through providing shelter, groceries, summer youth programs, and after- school programs is gearing up to celebrate a major milestone in the south DeKalb community. The Atlanta Peachcrest Corps, part of The Salvation Army, will host a weekend of activities to commemorate the organization's 50th anniversary Oct. 10 - 12. The celebration will kick off with the organization's inaugural "Annual Legacy Dinner," a first-time fundraiser which will benefit youth programming and other services at the Peachcrest Corps. The event will be held Oct. 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Peachcrest Corps Center, located at 3500 Sherrydale Lane in Decatur, and will include dinner, music, stories of impact and community, as well as recognition of former NFL and CFL football player Julius Williams, who grew up as a member of the Peachcrest Corps Youth Center and now lends his support to current members. Funds raised during the legacy dinner event will support year-round services provided by The Salvation Army such as housing, utilities, groceries, and emergency disaster services to local families as well as after-school programming and summer camp activities, according to officials. In addition to the legacy dinner, the nonprofit will host an outdoor community event on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Peachtree Corps with games, food and family fun, as well as a 50th Anniversary Celebration Service at 10:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon, on Oct. 12. "The community is invited to attend either or both of these free events to learn more about the hope that The Salvation Army Atlanta Peachcrest Corps is bringing to those in need in the community all year long," stated officials. The Salvation Army Atlanta Peachcrest Corps recently received an early anniversary gift when more than 70 metro-area Target employees volunteered during a day of service event at the center in Decatur, refurbishing the learning center, food pantry, and teen center. According to Target officials, during the retail company's "Bullseye Build" Day of Service, volunteers worked on the following: • A learning center renova tion that included building new furniture, supporting the after-school program by improving the environ ment for academic and homework assistance. • Food pantry enhance ments, including restock ing the pantry and adding additional shelving, im pacting the nonprofit's mission of hunger relief and supporting the com munity by providing more accessible and organized food resources. • Teen center updates that included assembling new furniture and painting murals to provide a more engaging and welcoming space for older youth in their after-school and summer programs. "We are blessed to be part of the South DeKalb community for the past 50 years," said Captain Jamaal Ellis, commanding officer of The Salvation Army Atlanta Peachcrest Corps. "The need remains high for many of our neighbors, and with the support of the community, we will be able to continue to serve as a resource and bring hope to those who need it most." In 2024, 525 families, which included more than 600 children, utilized The Salvation Army Atlanta Peachcrest Corps food pantry; 592 families received utilities assistance helping to keep lights on and water running for 761 children; and 60 seniors and 151 children from the community participated in the center's programming, 2 Volunteers worked to paint, build new furniture and more during the “Bullseye Build” Day of Service event. ) Volunteers from Target work on painting a mural to celebrate 50 years of Peachcrest Corps in the south DeKalb community. Photos by Target according to information provided by Angie Clawson, communications director for The Salvation Army Georgia Division of Metropolitan Atlanta Area Command. To purchase tickets to the Legacy Dinner event, visit https://southernusa. salvationarmy.org/atlanta- peachcrest/events/2025- legacy-dinner. For more information, visit https://southernusa. salvationarmy.org/atlanta- peachcrest/.
