Connecting Henry Executive Director Barbara A. Coleman said the nonprofit organization has had a “far-reaching” impact in the local community for the last quarter-century. As she celebrated the group’s recent milestone, Coleman said she hopes to continue that success in the years to come.

“Connecting Henry strives to continue to strengthen families in the community through strategic partnerships,” said Coleman. “Our goal is to renew old connections and forge new ones to bring to light and tackle the serious issues that Henry County families are facing.”

Connecting Henry, at 66 Veterans Drive in McDonough, celebrated its 25th anniversary on January 29.

Connecting Henry opened its doors a quarter of a century ago in Stockbridge. Its journey, said Coleman, began when the county was offered a $100,000 federal grant to reach at-risk teenagers.

“The objective was to occupy youth between the hours of 3-6 p.m., to keep them off the streets, and avoid gang activity,” she said.

Coleman began volunteering at Connecting Henry in 2013 and was later named employment coordinator. She has led the nonprofit since October of 2019.

Coleman said the organization launched as “an advocate for the well-being of children, youth, and families in Henry County.”

“The mission of Connecting Henry is to identify and collaborate with existing resources in the community for the purpose of developing and implementing programs that address challenges facing families in Henry County,” said Coleman. “Today, they still advocate for families and children within the community by offering programs that impact the whole family, primarily those who are economically disadvantaged.”

In 2013, Connecting Henry developed its Inspire Employment Training Program, for low-to- moderate-income individuals. Coleman said the program is geared toward addressing “barriers related to the workforce.”

“These two-week soft skills classes are designed to assist adults in Henry County in developing the skills needed to apply for, obtain, and maintain employment,” she said.

Coleman said the nonprofit has assisted nearly 250 people to enhance their skills through its Inspire employment-training classes.

Connecting Henry also works to address a number of issues facing families. The most pressing of those, said Coleman, are “unequivocally” housing and homelessness. Since 2020, Connecting Henry’s Inspire program – centered on assisting the local homeless population – has helped families overcome hardships stemming from COVID-19.

“Today, months after the pandemic began, families continue to face hardships,” said Coleman. “There appears to be no end in sight to the calls and the desperate pleas for help. Connecting Henry receives roughly 300 calls a week from primarily single-parent households and seniors that are impacted the most and require assistance.”

Inspire provides assistance with mortgage, rent, and utility payments, said Coleman. She said emergency-shelter and rapid re-housing grants have also helped families in need.

“Through the support of grants and donations, Connecting Henry can help these families stay in their homes,” she said.
Throughout its history, Connecting Henry has reached far beyond county limits to help those in need. Coleman said the organization, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, helped approximately 850 families from New Orleans to obtain permanent shelter.

Connecting Henry has also helped young people reach their educational goals through the Students Working to Achieve Greatness program, or SWAG. Coleman served as the program director for SWAG prior to taking the reins at Connecting Henry.

SWAG, she said, was designed to help at-risk and out-of-school students in Henry County, ages 16-24, to obtain their GED at no charge.

“Serving up to 131 youth annually, SWAG students had the opportunity to participate in the Work Experience Program, a short-term internship with local businesses,” said Coleman. “In the years that the program was in place, Connecting Henry saw over 170 students graduate from the SWAG program with their GED diplomas.”

Coleman said many of the students who completed SWAG went on to further their education, join the military, and enter the workforce.

Connecting Henry is also known for the success of its annual Community Cares Toy Shop at Christmas time each year. Since 2003, the toy shop has provided toys to thousands of kids from infants to fifth graders, Coleman said.

“In 2021, Connecting Henry assisted almost 900 children with Christmas toys donated by organizations, businesses, clubs, and individuals in Henry County,” said Coleman. “They also provided toiletries and perishable food items to the families receiving toys.”

Coleman expressed pride in Connecting Henry’s record of success over the last 25 years.

“Anyone that has worked for or with Connecting Henry is never the same,” said Coleman. “The genuineness of the organization and its staff to help the community is evident. The staff work with no benefits or retirement opportunities, because they love helping people and making a lasting imprint in Henry County.”