The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Attorney noted for her compassion for others
Her goal: Connect people to ‘address important issues.’
Attorney, mom and avid volunteer Lisa Blanco says she’s so committed to helping others that her family has dubbed it more than a passion.
“My daughter teases that my tagline should be ‘where compassion meets crazy,’” said Blanco, whose résumé includes a lengthy list of phil- anthropic projects, many of which revolve around disparities she’s seen in her community. “My work has been trying to connect more people to address important issues.”
During the pandemic, Blanco started the Compassion Kitchen Project, which raised money to support struggling restaurant workers. The funds kept area eateries going by paying for meals that were distributed to families in need. Through that effort, Blanco was introduced to PAWkids in Grove Park. Founded in 2015 by LaTonya Gates, the nonprofit was named for the Paradise Baptist and Atlanta Westside Presbyterian churches (PAW), which were commit- ted to supporting the neigh- borhood. Among its many outreaches is the Claudia’s House food pantry.
“The area is a food des- ert, and the challenges there are beyond beyond,” Blanco said. “When I met LaTonya, I found we both have a pas- sion for coming up with ideas to help people and address issues, and we started talking about ways to support that community.”
Blanco went into high gear and spread the word about the neighborhood’s food insecurities. As the president of the Young Men’s Ser- vice League Buckhead, she recruited high school boys and their mothers to collabo- rate on service projects. The young men conducted food drives that stocked the pan- try with about 10,000 items. They created healthy meal plans for families of four on a $90 weekly budget.
“They then went gro- cery shopping and deliv
ered the plans and the meals to PAWkids, and LaTonya gave them out to the community,” Blanco said. “For the young men, it was a great learning experience. And it was very entertaining to watch them navigating the grocery store.”
Blanco’s daughter is a member of the National Charity League’s Paces Chapter, and Blanco tapped that group for support as well. In partnership with Robin Minson, Blanco started the Souper Sisters project that had moms and daughters making soup for Claudia’s House. Last year, the project donated 1,821 quarts of soup.
“I feel my calling is trying to bring resources where they’re most needed and introducing people to different opportunities to serve,” she said. “Allocating resources and thinking more about what’s not being done and what more could be done is the space I like to be in.”