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Pathways

40 Stories. 40 Years. | A Personal Story Behind the Art “I didn’t want another mother to have to go through that.” For Patreece Lewis, Fine Artist & Muralist, the inspiration behind her artwork for Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter is deeply personal. Growing up, Patreece watched her mother work toward a better future while navigating challenges without the pathways and support that could help her move forward. That experience stayed with her. When envisioning her artwork for the Day Shelter, Patreece wanted to create something that reflected her mother's determination while illustrating the power of having a clear direction, meaningful support and opportunities to build a brighter future. Her vision speaks directly to the Day Shelter's mission. Because hope is important. But creating pathways is how we help families turn hope into opportunity. #40Stories40Years #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter #FamilyStability #CommunityImpact

When Lindsey Eichhorn chose Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter for her capstone project, she found more than an opportunity to learn. She found a community making a difference for families. Through her work with our families, Lindsey gained experiences no classroom could teach while helping connect parents with resources and support on their pathways toward stability. Her story reflects what makes the Day Shelter special: bringing people, partnerships and resources together to help families thrive. #40Stories #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter

Families are some of a child’s most important literacy partners! We were proud to have our Early Childhood Education Director, Tia Thompson, participate in the Literacy and Justice for All Annual Collaborative Meeting, where Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter was highlighted for our strong family involvement and the ways we incorporate literacy into family engagement events. Tia joined Nathan Thompson, Crystal Grimes and Diana Bacon of the Rollins Center for a conversation about strengthening family engagement and helping families become active partners in their children’s literacy development. When families and educators work together, children have an even stronger foundation to learn, grow and thrive. Building Pathways. Building Hope.

At Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter, we do more than care for children. We support the entire family. Our Board Chair, Greg Ryan, shares how the Day Shelter's wraparound services, from early childhood education and employment support to housing assistance and mental health resources, help families build their own pathways to stability and self-sufficiency. Because when families have the support they need today, they can build a stronger tomorrow. 40 years of strengthening families. 40 years of building hope. #40Stories #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter

Strong futures begin with strong foundations. As a past president of the Junior League of Atlanta and through her work with GEEARS, Lisa Dwyer has been a valued partner of Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter, advocating for the power of early childhood education. For 40 years, the Day Shelter has been ahead of its time, recognizing that helping children thrive and supporting parents on their path to stability must go hand in hand. Our two-generation approach gives children a strong educational start while helping families build brighter futures. Thank you, Lisa, for championing our mission and the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. Building Pathways. Building Hope. For 40 Years. #40Stories #EarlyChildhoodEducation #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter

It’s DAF Day! Have a Donor-Advised Fund? The charitable dollars you’ve already set aside can help a family move toward stability today. A DAF gift to Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter helps provide safe childcare and early education for children while their parents work toward employment, housing, financial stability and a stronger future. Put your generosity to work for two generations. Recommend a grant to Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter today. Building Pathways. Building Hope. https://acsatl.org/donate-atlanta-childrens-shelter/

What does hope look like? For Bill Bolling, it looks like Atlanta coming together to help families move from homelessness toward stability. He sees that hope at Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter, where for 40 years families have found childcare, resources, opportunity and a community that believes in what comes next. Because when we work together, we can build a city where every family has a pathway forward. 40 Stories. Building Pathways. Building Hope.

There’s nothing quite like the face of a child who just figured something out. The excitement. The pride. The immediate “Look what I did!” These are the moments we love at Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter.. Because no matter what challenges a family may be navigating, every child deserves a place to learn, laugh, grow, and experience the joy of being a kid. Thank you to @nancyjomcdaniel for capturing these moments. Building Pathways. Building Hope.

"40 Stories. 40 Years of Building Pathways and Hope. A passion for early childhood education can shape generations. Today, our 40 Stories series features Gayle Gellerstedt, whose expertise in early childhood education and deep commitment to Atlanta's children reflect the heart of our mission. Gayle understands the power of investing in children during their earliest years and the importance of creating a community where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Her passion for early childhood education and her commitment to sharing that expertise with our community are part of what makes the Day Shelter so special. Thank you, Gayle, for continuing to pour your knowledge, passion and heart into our children and their futures. #40Stories #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope"

40 Stories. 40 Years. One Incredible Legacy. For Bill McClatchey, the impact of Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter is about more than the services we provide. It’s about the families we serve and the children whose futures we help shape. In today’s 40 Stories, Bill reflects on the importance of family and the powerful experience of spending time with the children at the Day Shelter. As we celebrate 40 years, we are grateful for Bill and Carolyn McClatchey and their commitment to helping families build pathways toward stability and hope. Watch Bill’s story and celebrate 40 years of impact with us. #40Stories #40Years #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope

Two generations. One stronger future. We loved celebrating community and collective impact at the @atlwomensfdn Community Investment Celebration! Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter is proud to once again receive Two Generation funding, helping us support children with high-quality early childhood education while their parents work toward employment, housing stability and brighter futures. When we invest in parents and children together, we create lasting change for the entire family. Thank you to The Atlanta Women’s Foundation and its generous donors for believing in our families and helping us build pathways and build hope! #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter #AtlantaWomensFoundation #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope

SIP, CELEBRATE, SUPPORT! 40 years of building pathways. 40 years of building hope. One afternoon to celebrate it all! Join our Young Professionals Advisory Committee (YPAC) on Sunday, September 20, at the Brittany Club for a family-friendly afternoon of food, drinks, raffle prizes and community as we celebrate 40 years of helping Atlanta families move from homelessness toward stability. Your afternoon of fun supports the children and families we serve every day! Sunday, September 20 | 2–5 p.m. Brittany Club $45 per person | Kids attend FREE! Admission includes two raffle tickets, with additional tickets available for $5 each. Can't join us? You can still make a gift in honor of our 40th anniversary. Make your donation online to reserve your spot, and let's raise a glass to 40 years of hope and the families counting on us for what comes next! Link in stories. #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter #40YearsOfHope #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope

40 Stories. 40 Years. One Mission. In today’s 40 Stories, we hear from Lynn Merrill, who reflects on the Day Shelter’s early successes, the difference those first steps made for families, and the incredible pride she feels seeing that impact continue 40 years later. For Lynn, the story isn't just about how far we've come. It's about how we've continued to grow, innovate, and find new ways to meet the evolving needs of children and families experiencing homelessness. What began with a commitment to helping families has become four decades of creating opportunities, removing barriers, and building pathways toward stability. Thank you, Lynn, for being part of our story and helping us celebrate the impact of 40 years of service. Building Pathways. Building Hope. #40Stories #40Years #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter

For more than 20 years, Dr. Jackye Brown helped shape not only the growth of Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter, but the way we serve families. From the beginning, Jackye understood that helping a family experiencing homelessness required looking beyond the immediate crisis. Parents needed a safe place for their children while they worked but they also needed someone to understand the barriers they were facing, help them navigate resources and walk alongside them as they built a path toward stability. As part of our 40 Stories series, Jackye reflects on those early days and the philosophy that helped shape more than two decades of her leadership. 40 years. 40 stories. Building pathways and hope, one family at a time. #ACDS40 #40Stories #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter

What makes you most proud when you look back at something you helped build 40 years ago? For Lucy Vance, it’s seeing the Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter continue to meet families where they are—and continue responding to needs that are just as important today. In our latest 40 Stories, Lucy shares what inspires her about the Day Shelter, why this work still matters and what it means to see a vision from four decades ago continue to grow and change lives. The needs may evolve. The mission continues. And 40 years later, we’re still Building Pathways. Building Hope. #40Stories #ACDS40 #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope

Back to school READY! So many smiles. So much fun. And a whole lot of excitement for the school year ahead! Our Back to School Bash brought our Day Shelter families together for a day filled with school supplies, back-to-school essentials, and plenty of fun, all to make sure our children can start the year feeling confident and ready to learn. A HUGE thank you to @norfolksouthern, @beazerhomes, @kbpbrands and the Beazer Charity Foundation for helping make the day possible and continuing to show up for our families. Here’s to a great school year and another year of Building Pathways. Building Hope. #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #BackToSchool #CommunitySupport #Atlanta

What does it feel like to see something you helped start still changing lives 40 years later? In our latest 40 Stories, founder Carolyn McClatchey reflects on the power of collaboration, the community that came together around a shared vision, and what it means to see that work continue four decades later. What they started 40 years ago is still building pathways and hope for Atlanta’s children and families today. Follow along as we celebrate the Day Shelter then, now, and always. 40 Years. 40 Stories. Building Pathways. Building Hope. #40Stories #ACDS40 #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope

40 years ago, they saw a need and chose to do something about it. The @jlatlanta, in partnership with @northavenuepres, took on an ambitious idea that would become the Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter. Today, at our Founders’ Luncheon, we officially launched 40 Stories by hearing from some of the people who were there at the very beginning: the challenges they faced, the community that rallied around them, and what it means to see their vision still changing lives 40 years later. Today, they got to see what their vision became. ❤️ Thank you to @ga_power, the Junior League of Atlanta, and North Avenue Presbyterian Church for making today’s celebration possible. 40 Years. 40 Stories. Building Pathways. Building Hope. #40Stories #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #ACDS40

40 years of Building Pathways. Building Hope. A special thank you to @ga_power, @jlatlanta and @northavenuepres for helping make our 40th Anniversary Founders’ Luncheon possible. Join us August 25 at 11:30 am as we celebrate 40 years of impact and the community that makes our work possible. Reserve your seat at the link in bio! #ACDS40 #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope AtlantaChildrensDayShe

As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we're launching 40 Stories—a special series that brings our history, our impact today, and our vision for tomorrow to life. Over the coming months, you'll meet the founders, families, volunteers, partners, staff, and supporters who have shaped Atlanta Children's Day Shelter over the past four decades. Because every story has helped build pathways. Every story has inspired hope. Join us for 40 Stories. #DayShelter40 #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #40Stories

🎉 Did you know? Atlanta Children's Day Shelter was founded by @jlatlanta and @northavenuepres, whose vision 40 years ago created a place where children and families experiencing homelessness could find hope and opportunity. Join us on August 25 as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary Founders' Luncheon, honoring the founders, partners, supporters, and community champions who have helped shape our story. We're also proud to welcome @cityofatlantaga City Council President @marcioverstreet as our keynote speaker as we celebrate our past and look ahead to the future. 💙 Here's to 40 years of building pathways, building hope, and the next chapter we'll create together. REGISTER NOW: https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration-form/?formId=dbcfc40c-5aab-45e7-9daf-160fcb27a353&envId=p-QewMgM6b9EOC89tzNr0UhQ&zone=usa #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #ACDS40 #Atlanta #40YearsStrong

📚 School is back in session! As students across our community head back to the classroom, we're making one final push for our Stock the Bus campaign. Last month, @buzz_gt helped us celebrate the Summer Mayor's Reading Club, filling the day with smiles, stories, and a love of learning. Today, we're turning that excitement into action by helping families get the supplies and essentials they need for a strong start. ✨ Your gift goes twice as far! Thanks to the @beazerhomes Charity Foundation, every donation will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $5,000. 🎒 Donate today, double your impact, and help our children and families soar this school year. Together, we're building pathways and building hope—one child, one family, and one bright future at a time. Link in bio and stories. #StockTheBus #BackToSchool #DoubleYourImpact #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter

Birthday month + @buzz_gt + books = the perfect summer celebration! Our children had an unforgettable time welcoming Buzz during the @msrc_atl. From story time to smiles, it was a reminder that reading opens doors to imagination, confidence, and brighter futures. A special thank you to @gaearlyed for coordinating the Mayor's Summer Reading Club, funded by @pncbank with support from @United W@unitedwayatlanta, for bringing this incredible experience to children across our community. As we celebrate 40 years of Building Pathways. Building Hope., we're grateful for the partnerships that help create joyful moments and lifelong learners. #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #40Years #MayorsSummerReadingClub #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter #ReadTogetherGrowTogether

❤️🤍💙 Happy Fourth of July! Today we're celebrating the power of community, hope, and new beginnings. Thank you to everyone who helps Atlanta Children's Day Shelter create brighter futures for children and families every day. Because of you, we're building pathways to opportunity, one family at a time. Wishing you a safe, joyful, and happy Independence Day! #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #DayShelter40 #FourthOfJuly #CommunityLove

40 years. Countless lives changed. 💙 Today we celebrate 40 years of building pathways, building hope, and creating brighter futures for Atlanta's children and families. Take a trip through the years with us as we look back at some of our favorite memories—and thank every family, volunteer, donor, staff member, and partner who has been part of this incredible journey. Happy 40th Birthday, Atlanta Children's Day Shelter! Here's to the next 40. #DayShelter40 #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #40YearsOfHope

🍦 Summer fun is officially here! One of our favorite summer traditions? A visit from the ice cream truck! Seeing the excitement on our children's faces reminds us that creating joyful childhood memories is just as important as creating pathways to success. Here's to sunshine, smiles, and sweet summer moments at Day Shelter. #DayShelter40 #SummerFun #BuildingHope

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