2025 Impact Video

Ms. Asia, Jahleel & Ceazia

In 2022 my apartment caught fire and I lost everything. I had nobody to lean on to give me a helping hand. Atlanta Missions played a big part in doing that for me. I became a part of RATL in 2023 when my children began attending the Boyce-Anlsey school.
RATL has been a great inspiration for me and a great help. They've helped me with childcare after school. They've been a great help with helping me throughout the holidays so that I can go to work because outside of RATL I don't have other childcare means.
RATL has been a GREAT help with helping me financially. They've allowed me to be able to go to work for extended hours after the kids get out of school so that I'll be able to meet my financial needs in order to provide for them.
The kids enjoy RATL! They love playing with the other kids that they've met, because they've met a ton of other kids. They love the staff. They just overall like the happy, free, go-lucky spirit that RATL creates for them.

Ms. Anderson, Rahniyah, Riley, Journee, Chyna, Trinity, Tristan

When I first got here I was actually going through a depressing situation. My 2 youngest children’s father passed away in my home in my bathtub due to opioid usage. It was very, very traumatic for us. now we're at a point where it's like we can actually say we're free, if that makes sense. Now we're at a point in our lives where we can actually say it's just us and we're comfortable with that.
RATL has helped me to the point where I can get things done that I need to get done. And when I say things, I mean scheduling appointments, interviews, important phone calls. So just by them going to RATL is helpful, and the fact that they love going to RATL, makes it even better.
RATL has even helped me to get to the fellowship night that we have on Mondays, or if there's something special going on within the facility, RATL has helped me to be able to actually go to those things.
Oh my gosh, they do not miss a day.
I feel that not only do they get snacks but they can actually express themselves with the activities that you all display to them. And then I love the fact that you all have a therapist that comes as well. So I think that RATL actually helps children to express themselves and be themselves and to have fun on top of it and to know that it's okay to be yourself, have fun, and open up.
The first thing I'll say is your children display who you are. So just by them going to RATL, being around other children, and for you all to tell me that my children are great and they're well mannered and you guys love them, lets me know that I'm doing my part as a mom with my children. Because again, your children display who you are.

Ms. Fatima, Cooper

Me and my son had experienced homelessness and I was just really looking for somewhere for me and him to get housed. I went through a lot of different places. One place reached out to me and I got in here very quickly. RATL was a program they offered for me.
Honestly, I felt relief; I felt hope; I felt like maybe now we can get stable maybe now my son can have a real place to stay and I wouldn't have to worry about being homeless every night. It was a sense of comfort because they made us feel welcome. They showed us around and made sure we had everything we needed. The staff was very helpful I could tell that they genuinely cared about us and that made me feel like we were in the right place.
Being in the program has helped tremendously. It’s given us stability. For the first time in a long time we have a consistent place to stay. He has his own space I have my own space. I’m able to focus on school and work without worrying about where we’re going to sleep at night. It’s given me peace of mind. It’s given me time to plan for the future. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel and my son has been able to thrive. He’s happier, he’s doing better in school, and he has friends and consistency. And I love that!
Accepting this experience and being involved in the different programs and activities you have—it’s great.
It helped build my morale. It actually helped me understand that I am here for a reason and let me utilize this time while I’m here to better myself so that when I get out of here, I will have the tools to do what I need to do.
It has been great. I think that if you were to ever come here, if you do the work, it will work for you. I really do believe that.

Ms. Makiya, Ashur, Makeda, Messiah, Saadiq

My bills were in the rear. I am the only one; I have no help from anybody. I got behind in my bills, and one day I came home to emergency eviction with all of our things outside. It was very devastating. I've never experienced anything like this. I found Solomon's Temple where RATL was located, and that's how we found these wonderful people. Once again, without RATL, I would not have been able to make such a recovery.
Access to child care with RATL helped me because I have no family here in Georgia, so by them being able to come here for aftercare and summer camp, I'm able to have personal time to handle my business during business hours and get everything done and situated. It's also helped me with my time management because there is a pickup time that you must be here on time, never late.
They explain different experiences in different ways because they are able to grow and express their individuality here at RATL. I hear lots of different stories from all of them. As a parent, knowing that your child is in great hands and that they're not afraid to go - there is no anxiety, there's just pure happiness and joy. Sometimes they don't even want to leave, which is just awesome.
It’s comfort, it's refreshing, it's very commendable and respectable, and it makes me want to continue to drive and go hard because I know that I have support.

Ms. Breona, Simaya, Rose, Nova

We were homeless, staying in a shelter, looking for a job. I lost my job and then lost everything. I started all over from the beginning. And RATL has been really helpful by watching my oldest and my youngest so I can get things done.
It helps me out a lot. I get to take care of business, make sure everything is taken care of before the kids get home, and we just relax.
They love RATL. They want to go to RATL. They don’t want me to pick them up until like 5 or almost 6.
It taught me patience and how to keep my faith strong. RATL has supported me in so many ways. I had lost hope juggling a job and kids, but RATL came in right on time.

Ms. Jahnise, Jayceon

I was moving from state to state with my child. That experience was traumatic because he had to keep going to first grade again. And he went to first grade 3 times.
Child Care with RATL has helped me find jobs that benefit my lifestyle. The time taken from getting your child at 5 gives me a lot of time to go from work and come back to get my child. So I think the thing that I fell in love with with is the time management.
Since joining RATL, anytime I'm depressed, I just know who to call. I call Miss Missy, Miss Alexandria, and they kind of calm me down when I'm going through an emotional spill with my child. And so that's where I get the support from, just having so much stress on me when I look at them and they open their arms and let me vent to them. That's where I get all my release and I feel better.
His arts and craft. My child learned a lot in arts and craft. I think one thing he gets excited about at RATL is the arts and the hands-on activities.

WHAT THE VOLUNTEERS ARE SAYING:

"I knew that going into this experience we were going to be making an impact, but I had no idea that we were walking into one big family system that was so deeply rooted. The RATL students love this place and they have high respect for every staff member and volunteer. That really blew me away because, coming from someone who runs a youth ministry, getting kids excited is the hardest part.

But you guys don't just work with these students, you live with these students and the "Be With" Model model is one of a kind. It's not just something that you guys say you do, it really is what you do. Those summer hours are long and those days are long but it was the thoughtfulness in every single thing that you did to make summer camp the best for the students that made RATL so beautiful."

Becca, Summer Volunteer Leader

"At the beginning of the week, our kids were looking forward to pouring out and doing a service

for the RATL students. Throughout the week, it became evident that this wasn't about our students coming to serve a marginalized population, it was about our students forming friendships with kids in a different city. And more than anything, I think this is what RATL's all about: helping people see that we have way more in common with people from a different setting. We might think there's a lot of separation based on life circumstances but, when you form those friendships, there isn't any thought about your socioeconomic differences at that point, and that was encouraging to see."

Bennett, Summer Volunteer Leader

Our Programs

Free After School Care
Free Day Camps During School Year Breaks and Summer
Women’s Fellowship
Youth Fellowship
Free Family Events
"Be With" Retreats

A Note from Alexandria

It has been an honor to join the RATL Family and learn about all God has done through this amazing organization! It has been a joy getting to know each child, woman, staff member and partner of RATL. I am excited to be here and move the mission forward!

I must take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the staff members of the RATL Team. 2025 has been a year of transition for RATL but the members of the RATL Team have taken each change in stride. The women and children you have read about are the reason they get up each day and report to work. So, when you give, know that you aren't just supporting the women and children of RATL, you are also supporting the amazing men and women on the RATL Team who show up each day to serve our families. It is a great honor to serve Christ by serving these amazing families.

Thank you for being a part of this journey as we all move forward, together.