Commissioner Robert Patrick visited I Care America in District One to interview founder Anthony Delgado, who will receive the Trailblazer Award as part of DeKalb County’s recognition of African American History Month in February.
I Care America feeds approximately 600 families per month, runs food pickup routes five days a week across metro Atlanta and operates a weekly lunch program for people experiencing homelessness. Delgado started the organization 18 years ago. Before that, according to his telling of his story, he spent five years in federal prison and lived on the streets of Atlanta battling crack addiction.
From Worcester to Atlanta: A Journey Through Rock Bottom
Anthony Delgado arrived in Atlanta 28 years ago from Worcester, Massachusetts. He was homeless and battling crack addiction. He entered a rehab program at a Veterans Administration hospital and never looked back. Before that, he spent five years in federal prison.
“I never thought that I would own a nonprofit,” Delgado said during the interview. “That was the furthest thing from my mind, but God had a plan for me.”
That plan began about 18 years ago at a Publix. Delgado watched a manager throwing away food and asked a question: Could he start a donation program?
One conversation led to another. Today, I Care America partners with major retailers and restaurants across metro Atlanta: Kroger, Publix, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Buckhead Beef, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Square Roots and more.
Building Partnerships Through Persistence
Delgado built these relationships through what he calls “legwork and referrals.” He started with one Starbucks location near his house on Dunwoody Road about 12 years ago. That manager referred him to another store. Then another.
Eventually, Starbucks corporate added I Care America to their Food Harvest Program. Now when a new Starbucks opens in DeKalb County or Dunwoody, corporate calls Delgado directly. The same thing happened with Chick-fil-A.
His strategy is simple but consistent: He’ll pick up from any donor within a 20-mile radius. His trucks run on time, and he doesn’t turn anyone down.
“Once you lose those relationships, you’re not getting them back,” Delgado explained. “So I make sure my trucks are on point.”
After the interview wrapped, Delgado was heading out to Chick-fil-A on Piedmont Road. They’d called about a good donation available between 12:30 and 1 p.m., and he needed to be there.
How the Operation Works
The warehouse operates six days a week. Families sign up on their first visit and can return once per month. They receive about a month’s worth of food based on family size. Everything is weighed and documented.
Veterans can come anytime with no restrictions. Seniors who can’t make it to the facility receive personal deliveries. Delgado or one of his drivers handles these deliveries personally.
Every Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., volunteers pre-pack sack lunches for people experiencing homelessness. Each bag contains a sandwich, chips, water and a snack. People can walk up, grab a bag and go.
The organization employs eight staff members, and most volunteers are completing court-ordered community service hours. Delgado limits volunteers to those with misdemeanor offenses, typically serving 40, 60, or 100 hours.
They stock shelves, pack food bags, organize donations and help families load their cars at the loading dock. It gives them a chance to contribute while working through their own situations.
I Care America’s reach extends beyond direct distribution. The organization delivers food weekly to Malachi Kitchen at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Dunwoody, loading up fresh vegetables, meats, bread and other items from the coolers and freezers to bring across town — ensuring that partner organizations serving those in need are stocked as well.
The Numbers
During the tour, Delgado shared how the operation has grown:
- Approximately 600 families are fed per month through the main facility
- Trucks run five days a week picking up donations across metro Atlanta
- Wednesday lunch program serve people experiencing homelessness
- Partnerships with major retailers include Kroger, Publix, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Buckhead Beef, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and others
- 18 years of operation since that first conversation at Publix
The organization doesn’t make an official count of all of the people it feeds. People experiencing homelessness walk up for lunch without signing in, for example, and veterans come and go. The actual reach extends beyond the documented numbers.
Real Impact
When asked about families who’ve been helped by I Care America, Delgado shared a story about a woman who was sleeping in her car with three kids when she called for help. Delgado drove to where she was and found her nearly out of gas. He drove her to an efficiency hotel on Buford Highway and helped get her set up. A friend watched her kids while she went out and found a job.
She’s doing well now and later came back to volunteer at I Care America.
“It’s just about being available,” Delgado said. “I’m very blessed to be able to do that. Reaching out one at a time, that’s all it takes.”
The Funding Challenge
Despite 18 years of operation and consistent community impact, I Care America faces ongoing funding challenges.
Foundation grants typically last two to three years. After that, there’s often a five-year waiting period before someone can reapply to the same foundation. After nearly two decades, Delgado has cycled through many of these funding sources and can’t return to them yet.
“Most nonprofits face financial burdens,” Delgado explained. “I consider us professional beggars at this point, because when grants run out and you can’t go back to those funders for another five years sometimes, you have to find other ways.”
When donations run low, particularly for high protein sources like hamburger and hot dogs, Delgado buys emergency supplies from Restaurant Depot out of pocket. Recent funding from DeKalb County helps cover these emergency purchases.
Can drives from area police departments help bridge the gaps. Departments attract donations from people by placing barrels at various locations throughout DeKalb. When I Care America’s inventory drops to about halfway, Delgado starts looking for another can drive to replenish the stock.
On the tour, Commissioner Patrick saw the results of a recent can drive. Shelves were stocked with canned goods that Delgado estimated would last a couple months before reaching the halfway point and triggering another drive.
I Care America recently launched a program called I Care Miracle, which aims to expand the model beyond Georgia to other states. The approach is the same: build relationships with food donors, coordinate reliable pickup schedules and get food to people who need it.
The organization continues to seek partnerships with hospitals, foundations and community organizations to expand capacity and serve more people across DeKalb County.
February’s Trailblazer
Anthony Delgado is a District One resident running a District One operation that reaches across metro Atlanta and beyond. For African American History Month in February, he’ll receive the Trailblazer Award from DeKalb County.
Jim Ellis Automotive, a long-time supporter of I Care America, once told Delgado that his testimony is powerful. For years, Delgado resisted sharing his full story. But the journey from federal prison and homelessness to feeding 600 families monthly while employing eight people and coordinating dozens of volunteers speaks to what’s possible when someone gets a second chance and decides to give back.
“This is my homage to what this country has offered to me,” Delgado said, echoing the gratitude that drives his work every day.I Care America operates 365 days a year. To support the organization, donate, or volunteer, visit mybrothers-keepers.org or call 678-615-3341. You can also email ana@icareatlanta.org.
