Two Cobb County military families are experiencing a special Christmas this year thanks to a Kennesaw restaurant and the American Legion. They raised enough money to provide a Christmas feast and dozens of presents for five children.
Sidelines Sports Grille in Kennesaw teamed with the American Legion to donate the gifts to the families, including the Sgt. Melvin Clark of the Georgia National Guard.
"We cook a full dinner for them. Every family gets a full dinner with turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans - -some soda. Things like that," said Carlos Lopez, the owner of Sidelines in Kennesaw.
Clark has been deployed to Afghanistan twice. He hasn't been able to find full-time work since coming back.
"Employers are looking at National Guardsmen and says, "I can't take the risk to train him and he can be deployed and then I can lose that.' And military pay is not the greatest. And so there is a lot of military families on subsistence now," said Ron Asby of the American Legion Cobb County.
Sidelines held a raffle in November and collected $2,300 for two Cobb County military families and their children. LindseyC and her staff spent days shopping and wrapping the presents. Thanks to them and the patrons, each child will get 12 to 15 presents this holiday and the families each get a hefty Walmart gift card.
"These are families and people that come in and spend money here, just with us but in our economy. They're also overseas fighting for us so that those of us that don't have to fight and are able to spend our money freely and travel safely to buy Christmas gifts for family and friends. This is just really a way for us to be able to give back to everybody that gives to us all year," Crooks said.
Lopez has been doing this for six years. He hopes next year other businesses will step in to help more military families.
Friday, May 24 2013 3:45 PM EDT2013-05-24 19:45:21 GMT
If you're hitting the road this weekend, you wont be alone. Plenty of drivers are expected to make use of the long Memorial Day weekend, both in and out of town.
If you're hitting the road this weekend, you wont be alone. Plenty of drivers are expected to make use of the long Memorial Day weekend, both in and out of town.
Georgia State Troopers are planning to increase patrols during the holiday weekend to look out for impaired drivers, seatbelt violations and other offenses.
Georgia State Troopers are planning to increase patrols during the holiday weekend to look out for impaired drivers, seatbelt violations and other offenses.
Friday, May 24 2013 2:08 PM EDT2013-05-24 18:08:48 GMT
Authorities say more than a dozen people were injured in an accident involving a hotel shuttle bus near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday morning.
Authorities say more than a dozen people were injured in an accident involving a hotel shuttle bus near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday morning.
Friday, May 24 2013 1:18 PM EDT2013-05-24 17:18:36 GMT
A judge has sentenced Michael Parson to the maximum of 35 years in jail for the attempted murder of his wife. On Thursday, Parson was convicted of shooting his wife, Adina, eight times in 2012.
A judge has sentenced Michael Parson to the maximum of 35 years in jail for the attempted murder of his wife. During an emotional sentencing hearing on Friday morning, Parson's mother told the court she still doesn't believe he is the shooter.
Friday, May 24 2013 1:17 PM EDT2013-05-24 17:17:11 GMT
Families of city workers are back at Atlanta City Hall this morning for a second day of protests. They're demanding bigger pay raises for police, firefighters and other first responders.
Families of city workers returned to Atlanta City Hall for a second day of protests on Friday. They say they know the city faces budget issues, but they're demanding bigger pay raises for police, firefighters and other first responders.
