Community Assistance Center: Find the Right Help, Hours and Location
Community Assistance Center (CAC) is a nonprofit organization helping individuals and families in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody, Georgia, with emergency financial needs, groceries, clothing and services that support long-term stability.
If you need food this week, help preventing eviction, utility assistance, work-search support or education classes, the first step is to choose the correct CAC service. Its food pantry, financial assistance office and education center do not all follow the same hours or appointment rules.
Information reviewed October 20, 2026. Assistance depends on eligibility, available resources and approval. This guide is independent of CAC.
Quick Answer: Where Should You Go?
| Your need | Correct service and next action |
|---|---|
| Groceries | Use a CAC Mini-Market food pantry. New clients should complete the intake process and verify what documents to bring. |
| Rent or mortgage help | Request a financial assistance appointment. Prepare proof of your housing payment, financial emergency and household details. |
| Utility payment help | Request financial assistance. Bring the current utility bill, proof of financial need and related documentation. |
| Clothing or household goods | Ask about clothing assistance and client credits at Canopy Thrift. |
| English or computer classes | Contact the CAC Education Center. Classes require registration. |
| Finding employment | Contact CAC Career Services for job-search support, resume assistance and other available programs. |
| Tax filing | Contact the VITA program during tax season. Appointment and income eligibility rules apply. |
| Children’s seasonal help | Check CAC Cares for Kids, school-supply and holiday programs for the relevant application window. |
Community Assistance Center Hours and Locations
CAC operates several locations with different purposes. Use the specific location below rather than assuming the main office is also the food pantry.
1. Tamara Carrera Center — Financial Assistance and Education
Address: 1130 Hightower Trail, Sandy Springs, GA 30350.
This location contains financial assistance, administration, adult education and career services.
| Financial assistance | First floor — by appointment |
|---|---|
| Education Center | Second floor — registered students only |
| Career Center | Ground floor — by appointment |
| Administration | By appointment |
| Assistance phone | 770-552-4015 |
| Business office | 770-552-4889 |
2. CAC Mini-Market and Canopy Thrift — Roswell Road
Address: 8607 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30350.
| Service | Hours |
|---|---|
| Food Pantry | Monday–Friday 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.; first four Saturdays of each month 9:30 a.m.–noon. |
| Canopy Thrift Shop | Monday–Friday 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. |
| Food Pantry Phone | 770-552-4015 ext. 500 |
| Thrift Shop Phone | 770-552-4015 ext. 400 |
The pantry and thrift store share a location but have different closing times. Do not arrive at 3 p.m. expecting pantry distribution simply because the thrift shop is open.
Open Roswell Road directions3. South Sandy Springs Branch
Address: 120 Northwood Drive, Suite 150, Sandy Springs, GA 30342.
Food Pantry: Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Financial Assistance: Interviews by appointment.
Phone: 770-552-4015 ext. 701.
Open South Sandy Springs directionsWho Qualifies for CAC Assistance?
For food, clothing and emergency financial assistance, CAC generally serves eligible residents of Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and the part of Doraville served by Dunwoody schools.
Some financial assistance programs have more specific residence, ZIP code, income-loss and crisis requirements.
Financial Assistance ZIP Codes
The published financial-assistance eligibility page lists the following ZIP codes, subject to residence within the qualifying service area:
Check that your physical address falls within the eligible CAC service area.
ZIP code alone does not replace the service-area or other eligibility checks.
Rent, Mortgage and Utility Assistance
CAC provides short-term emergency financial assistance to eligible individuals and families experiencing hardship such as job loss, reduction in income, illness, divorce or another unexpected financial crisis.
Possible assistance includes a portion of rent, mortgage or utility bills. Emergency support for prescriptions or prescription glasses may also be considered for qualified clients.
Eligible clients may receive financial assistance once per year, depending on their circumstances and CAC’s current program rules.
CAC generally issues approved payments to the appropriate landlord, utility company or other business entity, not directly to the client.
Documents Needed for Financial Assistance
| Document | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Identification | Social Security card or picture ID, as accepted by CAC. |
| Proof of residence | Current apartment lease or mortgage documentation; other adults may need their own proof of address. |
| Household members | Identity documentation for residents; school enrollment proof or birth certificate may be acceptable for children. |
| Proof of income | Pay stubs, tax documents, or applicable benefit letters. |
| Proof of crisis | Termination notice, reduction in work hours, medical bills or other relevant evidence. |
| Bill requiring assistance | Rent statement, mortgage document or utility bill showing the relevant account and amount. |
How to Request Financial Assistance
- Check service-area eligibility. Confirm that your residence and need fall within CAC’s rules.
- Gather supporting documents. Prepare ID, proof of address, proof of income, financial-crisis documentation and the bill requiring assistance.
- Open the official request form. Use the Request Assistance page on ourcac.org.
- Enter contact and household details. The form asks for your name, phone, address, city, ZIP code, household size and number of children.
- Choose your assistance type. Select rent/mortgage, utilities, food or another applicable category.
- Describe the reason for your request. Choose the relevant situation, such as job loss, reduced work hours, medical hardship or unexpected expense.
- Indicate whether you are a new or returning client. Complete the required verification fields and submit.
- Follow the appointment instructions. CAC will determine the next steps, required paperwork and whether assistance is available.
If online submission is not possible, call 770-552-4015 and leave a message with your contact details.
Food Pantry: Free Groceries and Mini-Market Visits
CAC Mini-Markets use a client-choice system. Instead of receiving only a standard prepacked food bag, eligible households can select groceries that better fit their family’s needs, preferences and dietary restrictions, within program limits.
Available food can include shelf-stable groceries, fresh produce, dairy, meat and other donated or purchased products. Exact selection varies with inventory and donations.
How to Get Food Assistance
- Confirm you live in CAC’s eligible service area.
- If you are not registered, complete CAC’s assistance request or contact the helpline about the intake process.
- Prepare household identification and proof of address. Ask whether additional documents are needed for your case.
- Choose the Roswell Road or South Sandy Springs pantry.
- Visit during the posted food pantry hours, not the separate thrift shop hours.
- Follow staff check-in and client-choice grocery instructions.
- Ask when your household may return and what quantity or frequency rules apply.
Clothing Assistance and Canopy Thrift
Canopy Thrift, at 8607 Roswell Road, offers secondhand clothing, shoes, accessories, household items and furniture.
It serves both regular shoppers and qualifying CAC clients. Active clients may be eligible for periodic clothing shopping credit through CAC’s assistance programs.
| Monday–Friday | 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. |
| Telephone | 770-552-4015 ext. 400 |
| thriftshop@ourcac.org |
If you are donating items, check the current acceptance rules before bringing furniture, clothing or other goods. Shopping and donation hours are currently listed together, but special collection rules may apply.
Adult Education: English, Computer and Financial Skills
CAC’s Adult Education program supports people seeking practical skills for employment, independence and day-to-day financial management.
English-language instruction and conversation practice, depending on the current class calendar and available instructors.
Computer basics, commonly used software, online tasks and digital skills useful for work and everyday life.
Budgeting, financial goals, credit management, debt awareness and financial recovery planning.
Work-related skills, job preparation and referrals to CAC’s career support resources.
How to Register for Education Classes
- Visit the CAC Adult Education page.
- Choose a topic such as English, computer basics or financial skills.
- Open the class listing and check the date, time, language and location.
- Review the registration instructions and any class-specific materials.
- Complete the listed registration process.
- Wait for confirmation before arriving at the Education Center.
Education Center: 1130 Hightower Trail, second floor. Registered students only.
Email: education@ourcac.org.
Phone: 770-552-4015 ext. 239.
Career Services and Job Search Support
CAC Career Services helps jobseekers prepare for employment, connect with local employers and build the skills needed for better job opportunities.
- Job search guidance and planning.
- Resume preparation and improvements.
- Interview preparation.
- Career counseling and professional support.
- Job fairs and employer connections when scheduled.
- Possible training pathways and programs such as THRIVE for qualified participants.
Career Center: 1130 Hightower Trail, ground floor, by appointment.
Email: careerservices@ourcac.org.
Phone: 770-552-4015 ext. 240.
THRIVE Employment Support
The THRIVE program may provide individualized career planning, job training assistance and related support for eligible participants. CAC’s program description discusses financial support for training-related needs for up to three months, subject to program rules and assessment.
Applicants may need to demonstrate unemployment, underemployment or financial hardship, willingness to complete qualifying training and residence within the applicable service area.
Free Tax Preparation and ITIN Help
CAC participates in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free tax preparation services to qualifying individuals and families.
Its published guidance identifies groups such as people with lower or moderate incomes, people with disabilities and taxpayers who need language assistance.
CAC also provides Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) application assistance, including Form W-7 preparation and supporting-document verification.
How to Ask for VITA Assistance
- Check whether the program is accepting appointments for your filing year.
- Gather identification, tax forms, income documents and prior-year records.
- Contact the CAC VITA team to request an appointment.
- If requesting an ITIN, explain who needs the application and whether it is new or a renewal.
- Follow the appointment instructions and bring the documents requested.
Email: vita@ourcac.org.
VITA services are seasonal. The 2026 tax-filing program has concluded, and future appointment windows should be confirmed directly.
Children’s and Family Support Programs
CAC operates seasonal programs through CAC Cares for Kids and other initiatives. These can include help with school supplies, summer meals and holiday gifts.
School-supply assistance for eligible children during the back-to-school season. Registration and distribution dates are announced separately.
Seasonal assistance addressing children’s food needs, with distribution and participation details published for each program period.
Holiday gift assistance for eligible families with children. Registration, household documentation and deadlines apply.
Referrals, clothing support and connections to eligible assistance programs as available.
For the holiday gift program, new clients may need photo identification for adults, children’s birth certificates or passports, proof of address and school-enrollment documentation for school-aged children.
The July–August 2026 Tools for School distribution dates have passed. Do not use those historical dates for a future pickup without checking a new announcement.
Can You Rent a Room at Community Assistance Center?
CAC does not publish a standard public rental catalog for wedding halls, banquet rooms, gymnasiums or party facilities on the official pages reviewed.
Its Tamara Carrera Center provides offices, training and program spaces, but visitors should not assume these are available for private event bookings.
If you are organizing a community meeting or want to collaborate on an event, contact CAC administration at 770-552-4889 or info@ourcac.org and explain the proposed activity.
Volunteer and Donation Opportunities
CAC is supported by individual volunteers, employers, community organizations and donors.
Help check clients in, organize groceries, stock shelves and process food donations.
Help with sorting, pricing, stocking, donation processing and approved customer-service roles.
Support English conversation, computer skills and other adult learning opportunities.
Support resume reviews, interview preparation, assistance interviews and approved special events.
Some volunteer roles require training, certification, a minimum age or an ongoing commitment. Check the description for the position before applying.
Directions, Parking and Accessibility
Because services are offered at different sites, confirm your destination before leaving home.
| Destination | Use this address |
|---|---|
| Financial assistance / education / career | 1130 Hightower Trail, Sandy Springs, GA 30350 |
| Mini-Market / Canopy Thrift | 8607 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30350 |
| South Sandy Springs branch | 120 Northwood Drive, Suite 150, Sandy Springs, GA 30342 |
The surrounding Sandy Springs area is served by roads and public transportation. For public transit, check a current MARTA journey planner for the exact destination and travel date.
Specific parking-space counts and guaranteed accessible parking inventory are not established by CAC’s current published location information. Contact the location if you need accessible arrival arrangements.
What If You Live Outside CAC’s Service Area?
If you do not qualify for CAC’s location-based emergency assistance, you may still be eligible for other local help.
- Dial 211: United Way’s resource referral service can help you identify food, housing, utility and community support options serving your area.
- SNAP and public benefits: Ask whether an application navigator or Georgia public benefits office is appropriate for your circumstances.
- Eviction or utility emergency: Contact your landlord or utility provider promptly about payment arrangements while seeking qualified assistance.
- Adult education and tax help: CAC may offer selected services beyond its normal geographic assistance boundary.
Urgent housing risk: If you have an eviction hearing, disconnection deadline or court notice, do not assume submitting an assistance form stops those deadlines. Seek appropriate legal or emergency assistance promptly.
Before You Go: Practical Checklist
- Confirm that your household lives within CAC’s eligible service area.
- Select the correct site for food, financial assistance or education.
- Check whether you need an appointment or prior registration.
- Bring identity documents for applicable household members.
- Prepare current proof of residence.
- Bring income documents and evidence of financial hardship if requesting money assistance.
- Bring the relevant rent, mortgage or utility documents.
- For food, confirm first-time registration and pantry hours.
- For classes, save the registration confirmation.
- For holiday or school programs, check current enrollment dates.
Related Community Center Resources
These additional guides may be useful when comparing different community-service and public resource organizations:
- Community Recreation Center Guide — Explains the difference between recreation facilities and community support programs, including hours, fees and booking rules.
- Manet Community Health Center Guide — Shows how another community-service organization handles access to care, insurance support and appointment preparation.
- Lowell Community Health Center Guide — A resource for understanding community health access, insurance assistance and service-specific visitor requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Community Assistance Center in Georgia?
Community Assistance Center (CAC) is a nonprofit organization serving Sandy Springs and Dunwoody, Georgia. It provides food, clothing, emergency financial assistance, adult education, career services, tax assistance and seasonal family programs.
Where is Community Assistance Center located?
CAC’s main Tamara Carrera Center is at 1130 Hightower Trail, Sandy Springs, GA 30350. Its main food pantry and Canopy Thrift are at 8607 Roswell Road, and its South Sandy Springs branch is at 120 Northwood Drive, Suite 150.
What are Community Assistance Center food pantry hours?
The Roswell Road Mini-Market is open Monday–Friday 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. and the first four Saturdays of each month 9:30 a.m.–noon. The South Sandy Springs pantry is listed Monday–Friday 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
What is the Community Assistance Center phone number?
The CAC assistance helpline is 770-552-4015. The main business office phone is 770-552-4889. Specific departments and locations also have extension numbers.
Who qualifies for CAC assistance?
Food, clothing and emergency financial assistance generally serve eligible residents of Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and the area of Doraville served by Dunwoody schools. Financial assistance has additional residency, documentation and crisis eligibility requirements.
Does Community Assistance Center help with rent and utilities?
Yes. Eligible applicants may receive short-term emergency assistance toward rent, mortgage or utility bills. Assistance is limited, depends on circumstances and available funding, and typically requires an appointment and supporting documents.
How do I apply for Community Assistance Center help?
Visit ourcac.org/request-assistance, enter your household and contact information, select the type of help needed, explain your circumstances and submit the form. You may also call 770-552-4015 and leave a message.
What documents are needed for financial assistance?
Prepare identification, proof of residence, documentation for household members, income information, evidence of financial hardship and the bill for which assistance is requested. CAC may ask for additional documents based on your situation.
Does Community Assistance Center offer free classes and tax help?
CAC offers adult education, English-language learning, computer and financial education programs, career services and VITA tax preparation for qualifying participants. Registration, class fees, tax eligibility and scheduling depend on the specific program.
Can I rent an event room at Community Assistance Center?
CAC does not publish a standard public room rental catalog or verified hourly event rental prices. It primarily operates nonprofit assistance, education and service facilities. Contact CAC administration directly about any proposed community event or facility-use request.
Official Sources and Contact Information
- Community Assistance Center — Official Website
- Current Locations, Hours and Department Contacts
- Assistance Services and Eligibility
- Official Assistance Request Form
- Financial Assistance Rules and Required Documents
- Adult Education and Registration
- Career Services
- Empowerment Center and THRIVE
- Free Tax Preparation and ITIN Services
- Holiday Gift Program
- Volunteer Opportunities
Helpline: 770-552-4015
Business office: 770-552-4889
Email: info@ourcac.org
This independent guide is not operated by Community Assistance Center. Services, eligibility, financial-assistance availability, program dates and office schedules may change. No financial award or appointment availability is guaranteed.