Press & Featured Articles

"An Athens nonprofit is hosting one of its largest annual fundraisers, Rock the Ark this weekend. The benefit concert supports the work of the Ark United Ministry Outreach Center. Programs at the organization include rent and utility assistance, financial education, and asset building. Ashley Stewart is the Program Coordinator at the facility."

"This year, the Empty Stocking Fund piloted a directed partnership with The Ark United Ministry Outreach Center to tackle rental assistance. Through that partnership, 44 households were supported, impacting 130 individuals who were facing eviction as a result of past-due rent. A hundred percent of the households served remained housed through the month of December, with all rental assistance payments provided to ensure the entire monthly balance was paid. This partnership helped to prevent 32 imminent evictions for families with a documented loss of income that led to the need for emergency housing assistance."

“What we found out is in June of 2024, Georgia state regulators approved a 12 percent rate increase for utility customers. So the increased coupled with the summer temperatures June and July have added, what we found to be, almost $200 to the average power bill.”

"The Ark United Ministry Outreach Center in Athens is holding its 10th Annual Adopt-a-Mom fundraiser. The event honors single, working moms which have been served by the Ark over the past year, as well as women in area nursing homes."

"They’re in the business of sharing hope with neighbors in need.
Last year, The Ark United Ministry Outreach Center in Athens helped more than 240 neighbors with over $320,000 in emergency financial assistance.
The Ark, a coalition of over 30 religious congregations, aims to help low-wage workers, who through no fault or decision of their own, face drastically reduced hours, lay-offs, medical issues or other unexpected expenses. Clients receive emergency assistance with rent, utilities and other necessities. Since opening in 1989, the Ark has provided over $1 million in financial assistance to more than 35,000 individuals and families."

"One Georgia organization is making sure that all moms are honored on Mother’s Day. The Ark, a non-profit that serves low-income, working families in the Athens area, has been surprising single moms with flowers and cards on Mother's Day for more than five years."

"Several Athens organizations are teaming up this Mother’s Day to ensure that more than 250 moms aren’t forgotten on their special day."

"The Ark, an outreach ministry that aims to help the working poor in Athens, started the Adopt-a-Mom campaign five years ago to show appreciation for mothers "who will go unnoticed and otherwise forgotten on Mother's Day unless you adopt them," according to the website. "

"Fortunately for the working poor in Athens, The Ark United Ministry Outreach Center has rolled out an innovative revolving loan program that will not only help those in need meet their obligations but will also educate them on financial concepts and help them improve their all-important credit scores with an eye toward becoming completely self-sufficient."

"A new program offered by The Ark in conjunction with Georgia United Credit Union aims to give Athens’ working poor a better option. The recently launched Common Wealth Athens pairs personalized financial education with a loan program through the credit union to help low-income workers get out from under their predatory loan. Not only does the process help these residents define financial goals and stick to them, but it also helps them improve their credit, get them a bank account and end up in a better financial place."

"Ark supporters pose for a photo with Mayor Nancy Denson during an event at The Ark celebrating a million dollars in financial assistance given to community members in need on Oct. 20, 2015 in Athens, Ga."