Several Ryan Cos. employees, including Daniela Castellon, recently spent a day volunteering at Atlanta's City of Refuge — and got a chance to spend time with toddlers rather than adults.
City of Refuge, a nonprofit group that operates from donated warehouse space in Atlanta's Westside neighborhood, works with people in crisis to help them break the cycle of poverty by offering health services, housing, human trafficking intervention, vocational training and youth development. Castellon said the time spent at City of Refuge was special.
"Today I got to hang with the 1 year old kids who helped remind me that we forget how good we have it sometimes. Naps, snacks, art time and the playground all sound pretty darn good to me on any given day!" she said in a LinkedIn post. "All jokes aside, being there with these future adults was a great reminder that without places like this, there would be no snacks or playtime for many of these children."
Castellon's colleagues Susan Barnett, Brook Barefoot, Matt Dognazzi and Tiffany Davis joined her for the day at City of Refuge.
Bruce Deel founded City of Refuge in 1997. Mark Toro, a local mixed-use developer who owns Toro Development, serves on the group's board.