Giving Back to the Community
We Asked How Our Members Give Back to the Community , Outside the Legal Industry .
In March 2020 , our law firm , Butler Wooten & Peak LLP , decided to send some meals to heath care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in each of the cities in which our firm has offices — Atlanta , Columbus & Savannah , Georgia . This idea quickly grew overnight once we realized the huge need there was to support our healthcare heroes . There was one caveat on our meal requirement-- the restaurant providing the food had to be locally owned . The idea was two-fold , we would be able to provide a meal to front line workers , as well as provide financial support to struggling restaurants , many of which were having a hard time keeping their doors open & employees paid during the pandemic . Our firm gave the initial seed money for our newly formed group , BWP Cares Inc ., and our non-profit status was approved soon after . Among those who have received meals have been team members in the actual COVID-19 units , ICU , ER , Lab , Pharmacy , hospital EVS — which is housekeeping , hospital security , EMS services , fire stations , nursing home staff , urgent care facilities , members of the American Red Cross blood drive workers , local health department employees & hospital employees administering COVID-19 tests , etc . To date , over $ 100,000 has been donated to BWP Cares and over 22,000 meals have been sent to heroes in Atlanta , Columbus , Savannah , Macon and LaGrange .
BWP Cares continues to serve a constant reminder of how selfless so many people are who go to work each & every day & put their lives at risk to save others . The meals have been the perfect avenue to let them know they are not forgotten , we love them , support them , and appreciate them . We will never forget some of the kind words people have shared with us over this past year . One nurse said , “ We all have family members at home . I have elderly parents I have to care for , and every time I see them , I worry about exposing them to COVID-19 . I have kids at home who are trying our best to homeschool because schools are closed ; I , like so many others , are all juggling so much , the last thing we have time to do is think about making lunch or dinner to take to work with me as I am hurrying out the door . If it hadn ’ t been for the meal you all sent us today , I wouldn ’ t have eaten . Thank you , Thank you , Thank you !” It has also been rewarding because of the support provided to locally owned businesses / restaurants . We have heard , “ Thank you for letting us provide the meals because you helped us keep our doors open another day .” We are very proud and honored to be a small part in something that has been so incredibly impactful on so many . As other needs in our community arise , we plan to use BWP Cares as a tool to help fulfill needs . Right now we are continuing to focus on our heroes on the frontline fighting the pandemic , but will service others as well in different ways . We organized a successful blood drive for the American Red Cross and collected over 200 pints of blood . We also organized a holiday drive to support the Piedmont Children ’ s Hospital in Columbus
& Children ’ s Miracle Network .
To donate , please Venmo @ bwpcares or mail check payable to BWP Cares Inc to PO Box 2766 , Columbus , GA 31902 .
BROOKE C . PEAK Butler Wooten & Peak , LLP Brooke @ butlerwooten .
In my day job helping tenants at the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation , I noticed that many families that get evicted are forced to surrender their beloved pets to an animal shelter . When the family gets back on its feet in new housing , their pet has been rehomed or even euthanized . I reached out to other animal welfare advocates about this problem . In January 2020 we launched a new organization called Paws Between Homes , which provides temporary foster homes to the pets of Atlanta tenants who lose their housing . In 2020 , we were able to reunite 25 pets with their families , and expect to serve even more clients as evictions pick up in 2021 . We are looking for more volunteers , so anyone who is interested can sign up on our website : PawsBetweenHomes . org !
COLE THALER Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation cthaler @ avlf . org
www . atlantabar . org THE ATLANTA LAWYER 23