A Decade of Serving in Gwinnett

Peachtree Corners resident Lee Williams never expected to be in the furniture business; and he isn’t ...exactly. As a co-director and board member for the ministry Movers & Shakers, Williams plays an integral part in serving our community by helping provide furniture for families in need.

About 10 years ago, a group of members at a local church identified a need and a solution in the area of furniture. There were always people offering to donate furniture that they no longer needed and there were always people in need of this furniture and asking the church for help.

If these two groups could be brought together it would be a win, win for everyone. From those needs and someone’s willingness to help, the organization called Movers & Shakers, which is now no longer connected to the church, was born. The organization is now based in Alpharetta.

Not long after they began, Williams became an important part of Movers and Shakers and that’s where his heart and energies lie. “You realize that you’re really making a difference when you see a high school boy who has to get up and go to school every day, go from sleeping on the floor to having a bed to sleep in every night or a family, who is sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall to eat their meals, now having a table to eat at," said Williams.

Williams says that Movers & Shakers has grown a lot in the past decade and is serving more and more people all of the time. They started out with a donated mini-storage unit where the furniture was stored. Since then various storage spaces have been donated through the years, including at one point, a helicopter hanger in Cherokee County. Now they operate out of a rented space in Chamblee.

Twice a month, two trucks go from home to home collecting furniture from area residents and then make deliveries to families in need. Recipients range from abused wives to victims of fire to single moms in need. After hurricane Katrina, working with World Relief, Movers & Shakers helped refugees who came to the Atlanta area. 

Williams says he loves being involved in this organization because, “It works on so many levels. We partner with other ministries to help them do their work more completely. It gives them a place to work and to send volunteers that they know of who wish to serve. And, of course, it works for the recipients.”

“It’s great to see a father and son getting involved and serving together," added Williams. “For the kids who volunteer especially, it opens their eyes to the needs around them and lets them experience the joy of serving.”

One of the goals of Movers & Shakers is to develop relationships with area churches and organizations like to identify people in need. All of the people who receive furniture come by referral. 

Williams and the others who offer leadership to Movers & Shakers give much time and energy.  Last year 100-200 people volunteered to help. There were over 70 families served and 600-700 pieces of furniture collected and/or delivered. 

There is always a need for more furniture. If you are interested in donating or would like more information on Movers & Shakers, click here to visit the organization's website. Thanks to our neighbor Lee Williams for all of the time and effort that he gives to helping families in need in our area.