Meet the Manzanilla-Mora Family

The Manzanilla-Moras are a family of six originally from Venezuela. The family includes Alberth and Genesis (who is due with Ezekiel in November), Abraham (age 16), David (age 13), Ana (age 11), and Efraim (age 9).
Fleeing the economic crisis and political unrest in Venezuela, the Manzanilla-Mora family made a harrowing escape to the U.S. before we met them at the shelter in El Paso. This included traveling through 66 miles of treacherous rainforest known as the Darien Gap and riding for four days on the top of a cargo train car.
According to U.S. law, every person who immigrates based on a relative petition must have a sponsor. When this family finally arrived at the shelter, their sponsor had fallen through. This situation could have left them destitute in a foreign city or even facing deportation back to Venezuela, but knowing that our St. Thomas More family has vocalized the desire to assist a migrant family with resettlement, Leigh offered to step in as their sponsor of record. They arrived in Atlanta on Friday, July 21. Our neighbors, The Atlanta Friends Meeting (Quakers), and our STM community plan to support the Manzanilla Mora family's various needs as they transition and settle in Atlanta.

Help Us Support the Manzanilla-Mora Family!

Join our Support Crew 

Please find below additional places and opportunities for service projects.

Hands-On Atlanta has a database of additional volunteer opportunities you can search by age, distance, and type of service – Click to visit Hands On Atlanta website

PARISH-AFFILIATED SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Serving meals on Thursday and Sunday nights at the Gift of Grace House – Email Jen Gossett for more details – Click to Sign Up
Serving meals at Hagar House – Email Lauren Hoade for more details – Click to Sign Up
Volunteer in the Parish Nursery during the 9 am Sunday Mass – Email Mary Ann Brock for more details or Click to sign up to volunteer
Serving as a Mass Ambassador - Email Leigh Holbrook for more details

FEED THE HUNGRY
Volunteer at the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ages 8+) – Click for details
Donate food to the Decatur-area Emergency Assistance Ministry – Click for details
Make sandwiches or snack bags for the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception’s sandwich ministry – Click for details
Serve a meal at St. Francis Table (ages 13+ and COVID vaccine) – Click for details
Prepare and/or deliver food with Open Hand Atlanta (ages 16+) – Click for details
Help on Concrete Jungle’s farm or with farmer’s market donation pick-ups – Click for details
Help feed the homeless with 7 Bridges to Recovery – Click for details

GIVE ALMS TO THE POOR
Collect bikes for donation and/or help refurbish old bikes for kids – Click for details

CARE FOR THE SICK
Participate in a fundraiser race like the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run on 12/10 – Click for details
Donate blood (ages 17+) – Click for details
Donate plasma (ages 18+) – Click for details
Visit a sick relative or neighbor
Children’s Hospital’s Young Friends program (ages 5-14) – Click for details

BURY THE DEAD
Visit a cemetery and say prayers for those buried there, or volunteer to help care for the grounds – Click for details

HELP OUR NEIGHBORS
Rake leaves or do other yard work for a busy or elderly neighbor (have a conversation with them first about what help they would like, if any!)
Volunteer to help or cheer on runners during the Resolution Run 5K on December 31 and January 2 – Sign Up to Volunteer

TEACH THE YOUNG
Become a Refugee mentor to the youth in the Clarkston community through Catholic Charities Atlanta - Email Catholic Charities  for more information 
Volunteer to tutor, help with homework, or read with a younger child through a school or library
Volunteer with an art, music, or sports program

RESPECT WORKERS
Leave out water and snacks for delivery drivers
Write cards and give gifts to workers (check company rules first)
Participate in Operation Gratitude for first responders and Soldiers – Click for details

CARE FOR CREATION
Plant a tree – Click for details
Volunteer with Trees Atlanta – Click for details
Volunteer with Adopt-a-Stream or Rivers Alive through DeKalb County – Click for details
Volunteer for a park clean-up – Click for details