The Ark United Ministry Outreach Center

08/27/2026

Looking to gain non-profit experience, share your skills, or simply want to give back to your community? The Ark is looking for intake volunteers! For more information visit athensark.org/volunteer! 🤝

08/17/2026

Dear friends & supporters of The Ark,

As summer temperatures soar across Athens, many of our neighbors are facing scorching heat alongside skyrocketing electric bills. With power costs higher than usual, local families are stretched tighter than ever, turning standard monthly budgets into immediate crises. Our Summer of Stability Fund exists to bridge this exact gap, stepping in to ensure local households stay cool and safely housed through these tough months.

Our overarching goal is to raise $10,000 for utility and emergency assistance. To make this relief sustainable, our target is to reach $5,000 in direct donations before our summer benefit concert on Saturday, August 22nd!

Thanks to our amazing community, we’ve already raised $2,975, leaving us just $2,025 away from meeting our pre-concert milestone.

Will you pitch in today to help us cross the finish line before August 22nd? Your direct contribution goes straight to work keeping the lights on and relieving the burden for families in need:

$25 ➔ Covers late fees and keeps service active

$75 ➔ Offsets a mid-summer rate surge

$150+ ➔ Keeps a neighbor’s power on all month long

👉 Donate today: https://buy.stripe.com/cNi14m9AtgN62oc5wcaAw09

🎶 Join Us at Creature Comforts on August 22nd!
Want to celebrate with us in person? Entry is 100% FREE! Mark your calendar for our live music fundraiser at Creature Comforts on Saturday, August 22nd at 5:00 PM. Come enjoy great local music, support our neighbors, and help us light up the top of our goal bulb to hit $10,000!

Thank you for your continued partnership and for standing with our community when the heat is on! 💙

08/14/2026

Utilities are high for everyone, but for those living paycheck to paycheck it can turn into an emergency.
Click the link to donate: https://buy.stripe.com/cNi14m9AtgN62oc5wcaAw09

Or visit https://www.athensark.org/sos for more information!

Bonus💡Share it to spread the word!

07/30/2026

07/30/2026

Raffle ticket scavenger hunt! 🎟️
There are currently three flyers with envelopes with a FREE raffle ticket inside that enters you in to win a gift card from some of our favorite spots in Athens!

All you have to do is:
1. Find a ticket
2. Bring it to the show
3. You’re entered to win!

Visit https://www.athensark.org/summerbash for more information!🤘

07/29/2026

Mid-Year Update🏠💙
We’re halfway through the year, and one thing is clear: more local families than ever are facing housing and utility crises.
So far in 2026, The Ark has responded to an unprecedented increase in need:
606 neighbors served, that’s a 69.8% increase over this time last year.
$151,263.62 in emergency financial assistance distributed to help families stay housed, keep the lights on, and weather unexpected financial hardships, this is a 90.4% increase from mid-year 2025.

These aren’t just numbers. They represent parents avoiding eviction, children sleeping safely in their own beds, and families keeping their utilities on during one of the most challenging times of the year.

As the summer continues, the need isn’t slowing down, and neither can we.
That’s why we’re asking our community to support our Summer of Stability Fund. Every gift helps provide emergency assistance that keeps local families safe, housed, and hopeful.
Together, we can ensure that a temporary financial setback doesn’t become a long-term crisis.
💙 Click the link to donate today and be part of the solution. https://buy.stripe.com/cNi14m9AtgN62oc5wcaAw09

07/20/2026

Rock the Ark: Summer Bash is a Saturday night of live music, raffles, beer, & more benefiting The Ark’s Summer of Stability initiative to raise funds for the low-income working community facing the harsh realities of summers in Athens. Kids are home, layoffs & short hours are common, and power bills skyrocket in the heat. Come out and enjoy a night of iconic Athens bands for a cause! Oh, and did I mention it was FREE. Yes, this is a free event! Come enjoy Florence Cardigan, Cannon Rogers, & Karma Kat for a cause!

🗓️ Saturday, August 22, 2026 5:00pm
📍Creature Comforts 271 W Hancock Ave, Athens, Ga
🎵 .cardigan

FREE EVENT with raffles, music, beer, & more! For more information visit athensark.org/summerbash!

07/16/2026

In a college town like Athens, summer can bring unexpected financial hurdles. ☀️

Meet Ms. C, a single grandmother dedicated to raising her two young grandsons. When students left for the summer, Ms. C found herself unexpectedly laid off. Without a steady income, the pressure of maintaining a safe, stable home for her family became an immediate crisis.

Facing the daunting challenge of a sudden job search while trying to keep food on the table, she turned to The Ark for support during a critical moment of vulnerability.

Recognizing the urgent need to keep this family safely housed, The Ark stepped in to provide vital rent assistance. This intervention guaranteed that Ms. C and her grandsons wouldn’t lose their home, giving her the breathing room and peace of mind necessary to focus entirely on securing new employment.

In Athens, a summertime setback shouldn’t mean losing your home. Your support keeps local families stable and strong.

👇Click the link below to support our Summer of Stability Fund to help families like Ms. C’s today: https://www.athensark.org/sos