Georgia
Georgia organization provides 'Adventure Bags' to help kids in crises
Organization provides ‘Adventure Bags’ for kids
A Georgia nonprofit is making sure that children experiencing trauma or a crisis have all their basic needs met – and a little extra – one ”Adventure Bag” at a time.
WINDER, Ga. – A blanket, a toothbrush, a bag to hold your belongings – these are all simple things many people might take for granted.
One organization in Winder is making sure children of all ages have those basic needs met, and a little extra, particularly children experiencing trauma or a crisis.
“We all need that comfort. No matter how old we are. When trauma or crisis knocks on our door, a stuffed animal, a blanket can go a long way, no matter the age,” Misty Manus said.
Manus is the executive director of Adventure Bags. The nonprofit provides backpacks filled with comfort items, hygiene products, books, and more for children in need. Manus, a former foster parent, started with the organization as a volunteer.
“That’s actually how I got involved with Adventure Bags was through making donations of stuffed animals. And so I fell in love with their mission,” Manus said.
That mission started back in 2011. Tracey McMahon, the chairman of the board for the organization, was called to escort three children back to Georgia from Los Angeles for her job at the Department of Family and Children Services.
“All their stuff that they had – whatever they had with them when they went to Los Angeles was all in individual black trash bags,” she said.
McMahon helped get each child a backpack and filled it with all the essentials to go back home. She saw the difference those bags made for the kids.
“I saw such a proud happy moment. These kids had been through so much instability and whatever else was going on in their little lives, and she was proud to walk through the airport,” McMahon said.
She told her mom, Debbie Gori, about it, and she started Adventure Bags. It was her passion that she made sure was carried on.
“Before she passed away she said ‘You and Misty have got to keep this going,’” McMahon said.
And they have. Together with a small team of volunteers and help from big partners including PetSmart and Bombas, they have served more than 51,000 children across every county in the state.
“So we partner with agencies across the state of Georgia – agencies such as DFACS, first responders, domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, agencies that provide a direct service to children in crisis,” Manus said.
This year they expanded even more, sending backpacks to Georgia children impacted by Hurricane Helene. When tragedy struck at home, they had bags for the students at Apalachee High School.
“To be able to see their reaction – those kids pulling out those blankets and wrapping them around them or pulling out those stuffed animals and just hugging them,” Manus said.
Each bag is stuffed with care and typically inspected by Linda Morrison, the head volunteer.
“I’m kind of picky about the bags and the way that they get packed. So we always want to make sure that the books go in first so the child has a flat surface against their back, and the stuffed animal goes in last because that’s the first thing we want them to see,” Morrison said.
It’s a hug from a team who is thinking of every child and making sure they have what they need during some of the most difficult times, and zipped up with a little extra love.
“It just warms your heart to see that you are making a difference,” Manus said.
And their efforts have grown so much. Adventure Bags has outgrown its current space. The nonprofit is now hoping to move into what they call its forever home, with enough room to store all of the goods to fill even more bags in the future. If you want to learn more about their organization or how you can get involved, you can visit their website here.
The Georgia Bulldogs are trying to flip cornerback recruit Preston Glasco just over a week after he committed to the Connecticut Huskies.
Glasco, a member of the class of 2027, announced his commitment to UConn on June 10. Since committing to UCONN, Georgia has hosted Glasco on an official visit and offered him a scholarship (back on June 18).
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound cornerback has excellent length and size. Glasco has impressive athleticism and ran a 4.47-4.57 second 40-yard dash (hand timed) during a recent workout with the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Glasco plays high school football for Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia. He’s unranked as a recruit, but that’s bound to change soon. The unranked cornerback plays against a stout level of competition at Grayson, who is a Georgia high school powerhouse.
Glasco has scholarship offers from Army, Yale, Boston College, Penn and more. He’s a great student and appears to be healthy after he was recovering from a surgery around this time last year. The talented Grayson cornerback has also gone on recent visits to South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia currently don’t have any cornerback commitments in the class of 2027.
Georgia football offers Preston Glasco
“Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Georgia,” Glasco said after Georgia offered him.
Glasco visits UGA football
Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Threads for more Georgia football recruiting coverage!
The Georgia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 20, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 20 drawing
16-20-44-48-50, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 20 drawing
Midday: 0-9-2
Evening: 9-6-9
Night: 2-4-6
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 20 drawing
Midday: 0-1-2-5
Evening: 1-8-1-5
Night: 5-4-6-0
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 20 drawing
Early Bird: 06
Matinee: 03
Drive Time: 09
Primetime: 06
Night Owl: 02
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Georgia FIVE numbers from June 20 drawing
Midday: 4-0-5-8-9
Evening: 3-3-9-2-2
Check Georgia FIVE payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from June 20 drawing
01-09-10-15-42
Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 20 drawing
01-10-16-30-31, Bonus: 04
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes under $601: Can be claimed at any Georgia Lottery retail location. ALL PRIZES can be claimed by mail to: Georgia Lottery Corporation, P.O. Box 56966, Atlanta, GA 30343.
- Prizes over $600: Must be claimed at Georgia Lottery Headquarters or any Georgia Lottery district office or mailed to the Georgia Lottery for payment.
When are the Georgia Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Cash 3 (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash 3 (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash 3 (Night): 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash 4 (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash 4 (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash 4 (Night): 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash Pop (Early Bird): 8 a.m. ET daily.
- Cash Pop (Matinee): 1 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash Pop (Drive Time): 5 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash Pop (Primetime): 8 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash Pop (Night Owl): 11:59 p.m. ET daily.
- Georgia FIVE (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Georgia FIVE (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
- Fantasy 5: 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
- Jumbo Bucks Lotto: 11 p.m. ET on Monday and Thursday.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Georgia editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Georgia
Democrats block local property tax referendums as Georgia lawmakers clash over affordability – The Current
House Republicans are attempting to pass a wave of local property tax measures during an ongoing special session that would allow communities to vote on whether to raise their sales taxes to give homeowners a tax break.
But Democrats have so far successfully blocked the effort, stymying GOP lawmakers from putting the question before voters this November. They argue the change represents a new tax that shifts the burden of paying for local services from homeowners to lower income Georgians – and they question the rush to put it before voters this year.
An attempt to pass dozens of local property tax measures failed Saturday in both the House and Senate, but Republicans say they aren’t giving up. Lawmakers will be back Monday for a special session that has no set end date.
“We still have a chance to get this right,” said Rep. Shaw Blackmon, a Bonaire Republican who has led the House GOP’s efforts to target local property taxes.
House Republican leaders have prioritized property tax relief this year, saying it is needed to curb rising property taxes and help people who are struggling to stay in their homes. They unsuccessfully pushed to eliminate local property taxes statewide earlier this year, instead settling for a last-minute compromise that Democrats say is unconstitutional because of how it was passed.
The ongoing special session was originally called to redraw Georgia’s political maps – although those redistricting plans were abandoned – and to address a looming deadline for the state to stop using ballot QR codes to count votes. Gov. Brian Kemp later opened the door for lawmakers to tee up local property tax referendums. House Majority Chuck Efstration and other House Republicans criticized Democrats for voting against local property tax measures Saturday. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder
Dozens of referendums are in the works for communities all across the state, from Fannin County in north Georgia to Lowndes County in south Georgia.
“We missed an opportunity to help our neighbors today,” said Rep. Gerald Greene, a Cuthbert Republican who had sponsored several tax referendums for south Georgia communities.
Republicans control both chambers of the Legislature, but since the measures involve homestead exemptions, they need two-thirds support to pass. That means Democratic votes are needed in both chambers.
“Today what we witnessed once again was Republicans cosplaying a care for affordability in this state,” said Rep. Tanya Miller, an Atlanta Democrat who chairs the minority caucus and is the party’s nominee for attorney general.
“What they are trying to do is a bait and switch. What they propose today was nothing more than a tax increase on the people who are already hit the hardest,” she said, referring to the sales tax.
Republicans criticized Democrats for denying communities a chance to decide for themselves whether to lean more on sales tax revenue to offset property taxes on homeowners.
“This bill is very simple. It’s giving voters the chance to vote to lower their property taxes. Give voters that chance to do that,” said Rep. Scott Hilton, a Peachtree Corners Republican.
“I believe the minority party deep down knows this would overwhelmingly pass if put on the ballot, but voters are being denied that chance right now, denied the chance to have a more affordable life, to be able to afford their home, to stay in their homes,” he added.
House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley, a Columbus Democrat, said GOP leaders are manufacturing a crisis by pursuing the tax measures during the special session instead of waiting until lawmakers return for their regular session in January.
She framed the proposed local tax referendums as a GOP ploy to turn out conservative voters in November.
“There is no reason for us to rush through this,” Hugley said. “The other thing is that you’re asking people to raise a sales tax on themselves so that homeowners can get a relief. You’re picking winners and losers, and that’s not what we should be doing here.”
Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
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