Frequently Asked Questions
How do we make payments?
All payments are paid directly to the business owed (rent/utility company/etc.) We do not ever give money directly to the person requesting assistance. If diapers, food, or gas is needed, we will provide that directly as well.
Who do we help?
Our focus is families with children under the age of 18 living with them within Cobb County, GA.
How are monetary donations used?
When we post in the group for a specific request, we use the money donated for that specific family's need. If we receive additional funds (once it is filled) we might use these funds for operating costs (insurance, accounting, filing fees, etc- we are all volunteers so no salaries!) or we might use for some of the emergency needs that come up suddenly. We also will sometimes use the extra funds that we have and not made a post at all.
Donations made through our website will be used for operating costs or emergency needs that arise.
Am I eligible for help?
You must have at least one minor child living with you.
You live within the boundaries of Cobb County, GA.
You must have sufficient documentation of your circumstances to verify the need. This includes, but not limited to: proof of employment/job offer, bills and any other related documentation for all adults living in the house, documentation of your disability/unemployment status as well as SNAP and CAPS benefits.
The existence of the need is reasonable based on your income and expenses. We do require you to have some sort of consistent income in order to apply for assistance.
Fulfilling the need will alleviate a short-term obstacle which will allow you to sustain yourself going forward.
You are making the fullest attempt to solve the problems which led to the need by working or actively seeking employment, seeking assistance from multiple agencies, and making your best attempt to live as economically as possible within your budget.
Your need fits under the categories of rent, hotel bill, food, utilities, clothing, baby supplies, cleaning supplies and toiletries. We typically do not assist with storage fees, insurance, car repair, phone bills, moving fees, etc. unless that need is deemed to be the only obstacle standing in the way of your financial independence.
Your family has not been assisted financially within the past year by our organization.
Cobb Moms Helping Cobb is unable to assist with hotel payments for families that have pets in their room unless they are a verified service animal. An exception may be considered by the admin team if there are unusual circumstances present.
Please note that while this shows our initial requirements for assistance, we are unable to guarantee your request for assistance will be approved. If you meet the initial requirements above, the next step is to fill out an application for assistance.
Where do our requests come from?
We get requests from various sources: families find us on Facebook, school social worker referrals, local hotels and agencies we have built relationships with as well as referrals from other members of the group.
What is our service area?
Our service area is Cobb County, GA. Unfortunately, we cannot help those who live outside of Cobb County.
How can I help?
There are many ways you can help! Donations are always needed to assist our families. We not only seek financial donations but food, clothing and household items are always needed as well. You can also volunteer, help to raise awareness or provide resources to us for redistribution.
We also need volunteers from time to time to pickup/deliver donations and to sort through them before we take over to our storage area for our new CMHC Closet.
How do I donate?
Your donations are vital to our mission! We accept donations via:
Zelle (cobbmomshelpingcobb@gmail.com)
Contact an admin if you want to donate items for our CMHC Closet
Are my donations tax deductible?
Cobb Moms Helping Cobb, a nonprofit registered in the state of GA, is a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. If your donation was made AFTER 3-7-2023, it will be considered tax-deductible.
How do I request assistance?
Send a message to Joy Cobb (and a friend request) in the Cobb Moms Helping Cobb Facebook group. Fill out the general request form and/or request form- clothing/supplies/baby items and we will get back to you as soon as we are able. Please understand we often have a wait list (typically we cannot fill immediate requests), but in order to fill your need more quickly, please go ahead and send us the documentation that supports your need for assistance. Please email your documentation to info@cobbmomshelpingcobb.org and include your name in the subject line.
What is the process for assistance?
After you complete the form, send ID and proof of employment/job offer, bills and any other related documentation for all adults living in the house to us. We may also request documentation of your disability/unemployment status as well as SNAP and CAPS benefits. You can block out your social security number if you prefer, we don’t need that. We will then follow up with questions about your situation and might ask for more information. We are not being nosy...we are just trying to fully assess the situation to see how we might be able to help! We often have a waitlist for requests, so please do not expect immediate assistance as we can not always accommodate last minute requests. All situations have unique circumstances and we consider the whole picture in our approval process. We cannot guarantee approval to any family, however it is important that we can see that a family is sustainable and unless there are extenuating circumstances, will be able to support themselves going forward.
Will my information be kept private?
Cobb Moms Helping Cobb will never divulge your private information to any members of the group without permission. When we post about a family's need, we use general information to share a story about the family's situation but will never post identifiable information regarding your situation. With your permission, we will share your contact information with other families in the group in order for you to make arrangements for pickup, drop off, etc.
Do you know of any additional resources that could help with assistance?
Here are a few Cobb County resources to contact for assistance as well. Be sure to check out the top link which includes a 61 page resource guide from Cobb County Extension.
Cobb County Extension Resource Guide
Non Covid Cobb County Housing Assistance
Important Facebook Group Rules:
Only contact a member (other than admin) if you have been asked to. If you send a message to a member or comment on a post asking for assistance, you will be immediately removed. All requests for assistance need to be submitted directly to Joy Cobb or email info@cobbmomshelpingcobb.org.
If you're with a school or agency, please message us where you're from & we'll do our best to help. We can typically fill agency referrals faster than direct requests.
If you're asking for a friend, they will need to contact us directly. We cannot assist anyone through a 3rd party.
We have weekly donation posts, typically every Friday through Sunday.
We do not allow stand alone donation/request posts unless approved by an admin of the group.
We understand you might prefer to sell your item, but please do not ask for money in this group. Also, do not offer to pay for any items or give money directly to anyone. All items are donation only. No reselling of any donated items.
No political posts/comments are permitted.
No business posts or seeking employment allowed.
You may be immediately removed from the group if any rules are broken.
