Jars of Clay Outreach (2006)

Located in Pittsburgh, a tough Atlanta neighborhood known for violence and poverty, Jars of Clay Outreach is a community where lives are being transformed daily.  Volunteers are celebrated at Jars of Clay.  They come in with the heart of Jesus and do whatever needs to be done: help in the kitchen, in the soup line, in the children's corner, in the clothing closet, in the room or classroom.

Founder & Pastor Anita Favors with neighborhood kids during JOC's 2006 "Camp Explosion"

Take an online tour and find out how to get involved at www.jocatlanta.org

Read a stirring account of a CityLights visit to Jars of Clay here.

Jars of Clay 2006 Update

Jars of Clay Outreach was already bustling with activity when CityLights began at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10. Some people were packing up from having spent the night in the shelter of the sanctuary, while others were helping get ready for the day by making coffee or cleaning windows. 

Jars of Clay is a church and a shelter in the Pittsburgh neighborhood serving people that other shelters may not be prepared to serve, such as those with schizophrenia, children who become homeless after leaving foster care, men with children, people with AIDS or HIV, or needy people from local hospitals who are expected to pass away soon. While these people may not be accepted in mainstream society, founder Anita Favors and the rest of her staff go out of the way to promote the dignity of individuals they serve. 

Anita sees her role as being a representative of the poor. Most of the people who utilize the classes, counseling, or shelter of Jars of Clay are Atlanta natives. Many of the guests have jobs, but they are usually not paid enough to overcome certain financial hurdles and find themselves needing help. 

Anita shared struggles she has had in running the outreach, such as the process of bringing Jars of Clay into conformity with the city regulations. However, for every challenge there is a success, such as serving over 1700 children last Christmas and seeing 500 neighborhood residents assemble peacefully for an old-fashioned pig roast. Anita's goals for Jars of Clay are to house more people and to become debt-free, and she is full of faith for accomplishing this and more. 

Jars of Clay is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and always has opportunities to serve or give. For more information about Jars of Clay, please go to www.jocatlanta.org.