Events

Annual Packing Event

Each January on MLK Day, we host our Annual Packing Event, bringing together hundreds of volunteers to assemble Valentine’s bags filled with essentials and handwritten cards. This event unites students, families, and community members around service, compassion, and the belief that small acts of kindness can create big change. See below to learn more about our inaugural event.

Shelter Dinners

Throughout the year, Homeless at Heart partners with shelters across Atlanta to host volunteer dinners. These events bring warmth, fellowship, and a sense of celebration to women, children, men, and families experiencing homelessness. Together, we share meals, stories, and community.

Inaugural MLK Community Service Day (2017)

On January 16, 2017, we partnered with The Packaged Good to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day through hands-on community service. Volunteers of all ages came together to assemble more than 2,000 Valentine’s bags filled with toiletries and essentials for the Community Assistance Center in Sandy Springs, Georgia, and the broader North Fulton County area. In just two hours, thousands of items and handwritten Valentine’s cards were prepared to spread love and dignity to those in need.

Box City at City of Refuge (2017)

On August 4, 2017, we hosted our first Box City Event in collaboration with Restoration Atlanta (RATL) at the City of Refuge Shelter. Volunteers of all ages decorated large cardboard boxes and spent the night in them, experiencing a glimpse of what many homeless individuals face each day. Beyond the overnight simulation, the event was filled with connection and fellowship. Volunteers shared dinner and Bible study with the women and children of the shelter, enjoyed time together in the gym and playground, and listened to powerful personal stories of resilience and faith. Some participants chose to sleep in their decorated boxes, while others stayed in the shelter’s volunteer accommodations. These moments reinforced the importance of community, compassion, and being present with those in need.

Box City with Loveworks Leadership (2016)

In October 2016, our team traveled to Norman, Oklahoma, to join Loveworks Leadership for their Box City event. More than 200 students participated, sleeping in decorated cardboard boxes to better understand homelessness. Charles, our founder, spent the night in a box alongside the teens, sharing in their experience while encouraging leadership and compassion. This sparked us to have our own Box City event back home in Atlanta.