When Student Bar Association President Darlene Childers (J.D. ’17) learned of an opportunity to help a local charitable organization, she sprang into action. She reached out to incoming first-year students and, within a few days, she had more than enough volunteers to assist Caring For Others Inc. with its Feeding ATL project.
“I had many responses, but had to limit the opportunity to 10 students,” Childers said.
The 11 students helped pack boxes of canned food, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs and juice. Some students helped load the boxes into cars of the nearly 2,000 recipients, who were prequalified by founder Eslene Shockley.
“The recipients were people who have jobs but still have trouble making ends meet,” Childers said. “It was eye opening for me to see how many people qualified even with the stringent requirements.”
Kimberly Carabotta (J.D. ’19), also said the experience was enlightening. “So many people fall through the cracks—they are trying to do the best they can but sometimes they need a little leg up to make ends meet,” she said. “Often, those are the people who get overlooked, and to be able to help them continue to succeed made me feel good.”
Volunteering was also a wonderful introduction to Atlanta and to Georgia State Law’s community said Carabotta, who moved from Cleveland just a few weeks ago.
“For me, being new to Atlanta and being able to immediately be part of a community and to help the community was a great feeling,” she said.
“I was really inspired by Ms. Shockley,” said Darlene Childers (J.D. '17), left. “When asked what prompted her to start this amazing charity, she said, ‘I came from Guyana with $62 in my pocket to go to dental school. America has given me so much, the least I could do is give back.’ When you meet incredible people such as her, and see how they are changing lives, you want to be part of it.”
Childers reached out to the incoming students specifically to give them a chance to get to know some classmates before fall classes start on Monday, Aug. 15.
“I volunteered to serve the community, and it ended up being a blessing for me. I didn’t go with intention of crafting a new network of friends, but that is what happened,” said Carabotta, a part-time evening student. “I really appreciate that Darlene had foresight to see this as not only an opportunity to help the community, but also an opportunity to help us start our new law family.
“I went to the event only knowing one other student, but by the end of the afternoon the whole group ended up going to lunch together,” Carabotta said. “And being able to carry that into Orientation — I felt a huge relief walking in already knowing so many classmates, who then introduced me to other students.”
The quick response Childers received from incoming first-years to her call for volunteers is indicative of the civic-minded atmosphere and environment at Georgia State Law, she said.
“Georgia State is committed to public service, and to have these incoming 1Ls be so responsive shows how awesome our admission program is at identifying students who further promote the commitment Georgia State has to public service and the environment we have already cultivated,” she said.
Caring For Others Inc. is an international human services organization seeking to eradicate poverty through feeding, educating, clothing and housing individuals and families around the world.
Childers plans to coordinate more volunteer opportunities for students with the organization.
“I was really inspired by Ms. Shockley,” Childers said. “When asked what prompted her to start this amazing charity, she said, ‘I came from Guyana with $62 in my pocket to go to dental school. America has given me so much, the least I could do is give back.’ When you meet incredible people such as her, and see how they are changing lives, you want to be part of it.”