Neighbors Bank announced the top 10 finalists for its inaugural Neighbor of the Year contest, a nationwide search to celebrate the everyday people who make their communities better, and one of the people on the list is Dunwoody’s Judi Carlson.
Carlson is the director of Malachi’s Storehouse in Dunwoody, a local food pantry dedicated to fighting hunger in the community.
“During the pandemic alone, Judi helped distribute over 500,000 pounds of food to more than 2,700 households,” the release said. “She was nominated by Lynn Deutsch, the sitting mayor of Dunwoody, which speaks volumes about the impact she’s had.”
Carlson’s nomination said she has helped countless families in Dunwoody access food, clothing, and other essentials.
“She kept the Storehouse open throughout the pandemic despite significant challenges, ensuring no one went without support, and treats every client and volunteer with the same dignity and care,” the narrative continued.
About Malachi’s Storehouse
More than 30 years ago, according to its website, Fr. Gray Temple, rector of St. Patrick’s, was the inspiration for the organization. He was known for his generosity in giving money to anyone who needed it.
A group was formed by parishioner Anita Beaty to survey, evaluate, and respond to the frequent requests for assistance made by people in need from the surrounding community.
The name, Malachi’s Storehouse, is credited to parishioner Kitty Dahlberg, based on the Bible passage from Malachi 3:10.
“This Bible verse has proven to be prophetic – God has always provided enough for Malachi’s,” the organization’s website said.
Malachi’s became a partner agency of the Atlanta Community Food Bank in the mid-1990’s, which gave Malachi’s access to more food.
As Malachi’s client base grew and the amount of food needed doubled, the Atlanta Community Food Bank began delivering orders every week. Today, the organization receives about three pallets of food from the ACFB every Tuesday, with a team of 10 volunteers unloading and storing the food.
How to vote
Public voting is open now through Monday, Sept. 21, with the $20,000 winner revealed on Sept. 28, National Good Neighbors Day. Voters can cast their ballot once a day.
According to a release from Neighbors Bank, new research found that more than one in three Americans say their neighborhood and neighbors matter more to long-term happiness than the price they paid for their home. The full study is available on the Neighbors Bank website.
“None of them set out to change the world. They just decided to take care of the people around them. We can’t wait for the public to meet them,” said Ashley Harris, director of homebuyer education at Neighbors Bank.
Nominees came from 34 states, and the 10 finalists span seven states with 10 “completely different stories about what it looks like to be a genuinely good neighbor.”
Finalists were selected by a panel of four judges: David Burton, author and creator of Missouri Good Neighbor Week; Leslie Cook, Lead Real Estate Editor at Money.com; Talia Jackson, President and CEO of the Heart of Missouri United Way; and Angela Santomero, creator of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Blue’s Clues.
All the finalists can be viewed here.
