If you’re a citizen of Atlanta looking to give back to this wonderful city, here’s your chance to do so: HomeAid Atlanta is accepting donations for the 2011 Essentials for Young Lives^® Drive from April 25 until May 2. Diapers, baby wipes, baby food, formula and baby hygiene products are all being collected to help homeless mothers and their infants. HomeAid Atlanta will be distributing the items to local nonprofit organizations serving homeless families and children in the metro Atlanta area.

Whether you work in Atlanta real estate or a completely unrelated field, businesses, community organizations and individuals are all urged to participate in the 10th annual drive by collecting new, essential baby items from employees, friends and families. The donations can be brought to any of the Essentials drop-off sites located around the metro Atlanta area.

You can also make a contribution through HomeAid Atlanta’s baby registries at Babies “R” Us and Target. To access the registries, enter “HomeAid” for the registrant’s first name and “Atlanta” for the last name.  All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

If you’re on the fence about donating, just remember all the good that each and every donation does.

“The Essentials for Young Lives are just that…they are the items that the children we care for simply can’t do without.  Because these ‘essentials’ are provided by this wonderful drive, we can stretch our evermore limited funds to other important areas.  The love that comes with these items lets us all know that people do care and want to help give these little ones what they so deserve.  Thank you for caring about them,” said Donna Carson, executive director for My House.

Since launching in Atlanta in 2002, Essentials for Young Lives has distributed more than 240,000 essential baby items to homeless mothers and their babies. As the number of homeless families increases, the need for homeless services and essential baby items increases as well.

So show your support for homeless mothers and their infants in honor of Mother’s Day by donating to the Essentials for Young Lives Drive.

For more information about the 2011 Essentials for Young Lives Drive, visit www.homeaidatlanta.org or contact HomeAid Atlanta at 678-775-1401.