Brookdale Resource Center helps thousands of people along the road to a stronger, safer future.

At noon on January 6 five years ago, the Brookdale Resource Center (then known as the Brookdale Warming Center) opened its doors and welcomed its first resident. Since then, 4,862 people have come through the doors for a warm and safe place to stay, get new identification cards, connect with needed services, find jobs, start on the road to permanent housing, and so much more.

“What started as a way to simply provide a warm place to stay in the cold months has grown far beyond what we could ever have hoped, and thousands of people in our community have a better life for it,” says Mayor Lester Miller, who began the process of opening the Center in the weeks before he took office in January 2021. “We’ve overcome every challenge placed before us, all because we’re united in making sure people have what they need.”

“We’re here to help people experiencing homelessness or are housing insecure with whatever needs they may have,” says Executive Director Alison Bender. “We want to stabilize families and create stronger futures for people by providing that safe place where they can stop, take stock, find what they need, and move forward with the tools to be successful.”

To mark its fifth anniversary, Macon-Bibb County and the United Way of Central Georgia are encouraging the public to step forward to support the residents, staff, and volunteers.

Since opening, hundreds of thousands of dollars, needed items, and volunteer hours have been donated by people. To mark the fifth anniversary, people are encouraged to do five things that, ultimately, will support current and future residents:

• Give five dollars. (Click link to donate online/see donation lists)
• Volunteer five hours of service. (Click link to sign up)
• Order five needed items. (Click here for Amazon wishlist) (Click here for donation list)
• Share the story of Brookdale with five people.
• Support Brookdale for the next five years.

“The Brookdale Resource Center couldn’t support as many people as it has for this long without help from the community, and we are eternally grateful for that,” says Carl Tims, CEO of United Way of Central Georgia. “We know, though, there are still many more people that need us, so we’re taking this moment to re-energize the public’s support for the people and families who need us the most.”

Also, during this time, Macon-Bibb and United Way will be highlighting residents and their successes and the staff, volunteers, and partner organizations that supported them through their journey. There will also be a look back on the massive effort that went into opening the Center, a monumental task that took place over a single holiday weekend. Stories, videos, pictures, statistics, testimonials, and more will be published in the two organizations’ e-newsletters and social media pages and through the local media.

“What happens inside these walls is truly inspiring, from the outpouring of love by our entire community to the results we see with families to the look of renewed hope in a child’s eyes,” says Bender. “We are all working together here to make sure our friends, family members, and neighbors all have a safe and strong path forward with their lives.”

“We want people to truly understand what happens here and why…to understand the love that has driven so many people to reach out and help someone have a better future,” says Chief Communications Officer Chris Floore. “There’s never been a moment in this story where someone said they couldn’t help; they always ask what more they can do. And that’s the story of our community.”

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Thank you to the following agencies/companies for supporting Brookdale Resource Center: 

The Salvation Army of Central Georgia, the Bibb County School District, United Way of Central Georgia, Community Foundation of Central Georgia, the Macon Coalition to End Homelessness, Depaul USA Daybreak, Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority, the Mentor’s Project of Bibb County, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, River Edge Behavioral Health, North Central Health District, Macon-Bibb County Health Department, Georgia Women (And Those Who Stand With Us), Macon Periods Easier, Choosing a Quality Life, Macon Area Habitat for Humanity, Community Partnership-Bibb County Family Connection, the American Red Cross of Central Georgia, Goodwill of Central Georgia, Coca-Cola, Loaves and Fishes, the Society of St. Andrew, First Choice Primary Care, Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, Macon Housing Authority, Macon Violence Prevention (MVP), Macon Mental Health Matters, Washington Memorial Library, New Piney Grove Baptist Church, GA Power, Atlanta Gas Light, Metro Power, Terracon, Robins Financial, Capital City, Blue Bird, Amazon, Schwartz Roofing, Leadership Macon Class 2020-2021, Mercer University, & Irving Tissue. 

Macon-Bibb County Departments involved with this effort include: Mayor’s Office, Emergency Management Agency, Fire Department, Public Works, Recreation, County Manager’s Office, Budget & Planning, and Communications.