ATLANTA, Ga. — A charity in the metro area is working behind the scenes to help out other charities.
Channel 2's Erica Byfield went to the ToolBank in southeast Atlanta to learn more about the nonprofit's efforts to provide tools for other charities and in the process, transform lives.
A building that once housed a church is now a gathering place for volunteers. The 27,000 square-foot facility holds all the tools you can think of.
"We have over 200 types of tools and we have thousands of those tools," said Patty Russart, executive director of ToolBank.
She runs the nonprofit, which she merely said is designed to help other nonprofits.
Drive around the greater metropolitan area to see the impact of ToolBank's work.
Byfield visited a courtyard at a transitional center for veterans, which was built using ToolBank supplies.
"Just this year alone we've serviced over 200 organizations," Russart said.
Russart's group allows other nonprofits to rent tools at a steep discount. For example, a nonprofit could rent a shovel for a week for 17 cents.
If you walk around the warehouse, something will jump out at you, Byfield said. Almost all of the tools are blue and there is a good reason for that, she said.
"It's a way to identify for a way to bring them back. It also helps identify its tool bank providing the tools for the event," Russart explained.
This charity is run by a staff of three, so having volunteers is critical.
On the day Channel 2 Action News visited, volunteers were helping the charity that helps nonprofits fix up their new warehouse with ToolBank's own tools.
"It's a good way for me to get my skills back into the community," said volunteer Brian Hogue.
Toolbank moved to Englewood Avenue this summer. For a nonprofit without vehicles, moving 35,000 tools seemed impossible.
"It was mind-blogging on how are we going to get all of this stuff moved over," Russart said.
That changed when UPS stepped up. The Atlanta-based company sent volunteers and trucks to help.
"In two and a-half hours, we couldn't believe it. At that moment I really wanted to cry I was so happy," said Russart.
In 2013 ToolBank loaned out $1.1 million worth of tools and charged the nonprofits $3,500.