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Childhood

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

What started as a volunteer workforce development project has grown into a program helping Atlanta Children's Day Shelter families access the skills, resources and opportunities they need to move forward. For Jason Patrick, the mission is personal. “We know what it means to grow up in Atlanta and the barriers that many face in accessing quality jobs. Our experiences shape our approach to help.” Jason describes early childhood education as a powerful opportunity multiplier. When children have access to quality early learning, parents gain the time and support to pursue employment, develop new skills and build a stronger future. #40Stories #40YearsOfImpact #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope

Stories + pinwheels + lots of smiles! Our children had so much fun welcoming @accenture volunteers for a day filled with read-alouds, play and colorful pinwheels. From discovering a new story together to the simple joy of watching a pinwheel spin, these are the moments that make childhood special. Thank you, Accenture, for bringing your time, energy and joy to the Day Shelter—and for helping our children learn, play and grow! #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #VolunteerImpact #Accenture #LearningThroughPlay

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

"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"

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

🍦 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

Our first Summer Water Fun Day was a huge splash! From running through sprinklers to playing with friends, our students enjoyed a day filled with everything childhood should be—fun, laughter, and carefree moments. These are the moments that remind us why our work matters. Watching our students laugh, play, and celebrate together filled our hearts with joy. Here's to a summer full of smiles, sunshine, and unforgettable memories! 💙☀️ #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #SummerFun #JoyInChildhood #MakingMemories #FunInTheSun

🌡️ Every degree. Every child. Every opportunity. We're honored to be Atlanta News First's July 3 Degree Guarantee nonprofit partner as we celebrate 40 years of serving Atlanta's children and families. ❤️ Thank you, Atlanta News First, for helping us celebrate 40 years of hope and for inspiring our community to give back. #DayShelter40 #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #StockTheBus #AtlantaNewsFirst #BackToSchool #GiveBack

Our 40th Birthday Month celebration continues! 🎉 We were thrilled to welcome @cityofatlantaga City Councilmembers @mattwestmoreland and @atldistrict1 to Atlanta Children's Day Shelter. They toured our campus, learned more about our mission, and spent time reading with some of our amazing children, a special moment that brought plenty of smiles. #DayShelter40 #BuildingPathwaysBuildingHope #CommunityPartners #Atlanta #EarlyLearning

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

Carson is headed to @alabamastate1867 this fall on a full-ride scholarship. 💙 As the oldest of seven children and a first-generation high school graduate, Carson has worked incredibly hard to reach this milestone. Last year, Carson participated in our Back to School Bash, receiving school supplies, fresh haircuts, new school outfits, hygiene items, and other essentials to help him begin the school year feeling confident and prepared. Help more children write stories like Carson's. 🎒 Through Stock the Bus, your gift will be doubled up to $5,000 thanks to the generous support of the @beazerhomes Charity Foundation. Every child deserves to start the school year with confidence. Link in bio and stories!

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

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

Spooky Fun, Sweet Treats and Fall Smiles! Our friends from @samsara.iot brought a little Halloween magic to the Day Shelter with festive books, creative crafts, yummy snacks and lots of laughter! There's nothing scary about the joy of coming together to celebrate the season! Thank you, Samsara, for making fall so much fun for our little learners!

Big trucks. Big smiles. Big dreams. A special visit from @atlantafirerescue brought lots of excitement to the Day Shelter! From exploring the fire truck to meeting everyday heroes, our children had a blast learning about the people who help keep our community safe. Thank you to our local firefighters for inspiring big dreams and even bigger smiles!

Meet Zuri. Bright, playful, spontaneous and completely herself. She loved making friends, giving hugs and expressing her personality—even if that meant rain boots with a tutu. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Jazzuri is sharing their story because she hopes it can help another family. Zuri was a victim of domestic violence. “If I can touch one person or help get one person out of the situation, that is the point of sharing.” Her message: recognize the warning signs, take controlling behavior seriously and seek support. During a time when her family didn’t have a solid foundation, the Atlanta Children's Day Shelter gave Zuri a safe place to learn, play and simply be a child and gave her mom, Jazurri, a support system she could count on. That relationship continues today. Remember Zuri for her hugs, her joy, her independence and the love she shared so freely. That is Zuri’s legacy.

There is so much to be proud of after 40 years of Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter, but for Ann Cramer, that pride begins with our families. As part of 40 Stories, Ann Cramer shares her hope for a future where every family has the support, resources and opportunities they need to move forward and thrive. 40 years of impact. 40 years of hope. And we’re just getting started. #40Stories #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter #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

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

🎃👻 Trick-or-Treating, Sweet Treats and Lots of Little Smiles!🍬 From creatively decorated doors to costumes, candy and lots of giggles, our little ghosts and goblins had a BOO-tiful time trick-or-treating at the Day Shelter! A HUGE shoutout to @norfolksouthern for helping fill our halls with Halloween magic, laughter and plenty of sweet surprises! 🧡 It's these moments of pure childhood joy that remind us of the incredible power of community. Thank you for making this day so special for our little ones! #HalloweenFun #TrickOrTreat #AtlantaChildrensDayShelter #CommunityLove