The New Year is coming fast. It is almost upon up and I am partially ready to be done with this year because that means new adventures and endless possibilities.

I have always loved the New Year because it means that anything can happen and life can change for the better. That does not always happen but a girl can hope.

This year, I am working on not setting too many new years resolutions that I cannot keep…because honestly I am the worst about keeping those. (One year I said I wouldn’t eat any junk food anymore…that lasted about a week…okay more like three days.)

This year, instead, I want to focus on serving others more locally and globally. While this is something that comes naturally to me now, it was not always that way. I want to share my favorite places to serve around the North Georgia area in case some of you want to jump into service this year too. This is not a full list of the amazing non-profits in North Georgia, but these are some that I have had the pleasure of serving with and who I plan to serve with more in 2017.

1) SERV International

Canton, Georgia - SERV is a non-profit ministry that works in Kenya, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and locally to bring food, clean water, shelter, and orphan care. They are an amazing organization that I have the blessed to work with for around 7 months and it is an organization with integrity that is 100% pass through. Locally, they have internships for college students throughout the year looking to build their resume and they also have an amazing SERV Store that has brand name items as discount prices (like half or retail kind of prices). You can sponsor a child as a family or buy a water filter to change someone's life. You can provide food for the hungry across the world with just a click of your computer. If you are adventurous, SERV also has missions trips to Kenya and Costa Rica in 2017 if anyone wants to experience what we do globally on a daily basis. Traveling the world while creating change? What a great organization that I am blessed to be a part of, and you can be too! You can check SERV out at www.servone.org.

2) Atlanta Dream Center

This one is obviously in Atlanta and it is one of the best organizations that I know of. The Dream Center hosts “Adopt a Block’ on Saturday’s, where the invite people to go and love on those in the community that are considered “less than” by most people. When volunteering to the Dream Center, you quickly learn that you are not any different than anyone that you work with and you are all just people trying to get by at times. You meet the most amazing people and the kids are adorable. You fall in love with what they do really quickly. They also have church on Sunday, a Dream Center program for people looking for a college alternative, and Out of Darkness ministry that works to rescue and rehab human trafficking and sex slaves in our own backyard. Check them out at www.atlantadreamcenter.com.

3) Just One Africa

This is another global non-profit that works in Kenya. Just One is amazing! I have gone on two trips to Kenya with Just One and they changed my life and perspective completely. Just One is all about bringing clean water to people who have only dirty water that is killing them. This seems so simple to us here in the U.S. as we can get clean water anywhere, but overseas it is life or death. Just One goes several times a year to bring clean water filters made by UZima that are changing people’s lives daily. The number one cause of death is water borne illness, so they work to stop that. They also sell amazing paper bead jewelry made by amazing women in Kenya so you should check them out and make a difference by buying an item or volunteering/get service hours by stringing the beads. Check them out at www.justoneafrica.org.

4) Forsyth County Humane Society

If you have less interest in people but love helping animals, this is an amazing organization to volunteer at. I have fostered and bottle fed kittens through the Humane Society in Forsyth county and they are always looking for fosters, people to adopt, or people to come and play with the cats and dogs at their locations. They also accept donations for the animals to meet their needs. This is a great organization that makes a difference in the lives of so many animals and I just love what they are doing for our furry friends. Check them out at www.forsythpets.org.

5) No Longer Bound

Last, but certainly not least, No Longer Bound is a gem in the midst of non-profits, it changes so many lives daily. No Longer Bound is a 12-month regeneration program to rescue addicts and restore families damaged by addiction. NLB is on our own backyard in Cumming working to change the lives of men struggling with addiction. It gives them hope and a chance to change. You can help No Longer Bound by shopping or donating to their Thrift Store in Downtown Cumming or Shopping at their Boutique. Helping people by shopping…incredible! The men in the program make the most amazing furniture and every home should have a piece. It is amazing! Check out their mission and how you can get involved at www.nolongerbound.com.

While that may not even come close to the full list of non-profits and ministries doing great work in the area, those are some that I have personally worked with and are near and dear to my heart. Maybe they will become that way to you as well.

This new year is coming fast and I hope it is a year marked by changing the world one person at a time. We cannot change everything that is broken in the world, but as we volunteer and create change one person at a time it will create a ripple effect and change the world for us.

Happy Almost New Year! Get out there and make a difference!