Resources in DeKalb County

​Deloris Wallis, a member of Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church, saw a need to provide food to hungry members of the community in the early 1950s. Starting in their home with food donated by members of the church and its surrounding neighbors, Deloris and her husband, Julius, purchased and delivered food to people in need. Each bag was filled with flour, sugar, meat and other basics and cost about $10. According to Julius, Deloris made the food pantry a mission of the church.

​By 1971 the Wallis’ no longer had room in their home to support the pantry’s growth so it was moved to the church.

​At the same time as the Wallis’ were seeing to the needs of the community by providing food, the women of St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church held a rummage sale in 1952. Its success led to the opening of the Budget Helper Shop on Peachtree Road in Brookhaven. With support from St. Martin’s Church, the volunteers created a memorable shop and a charming workplace serving those in need of clothing. For many years, the Budget Helper Shop stood at Caldwell Road and Dresden Drive in a self-standing building owned by St. Martin’s.

However, the demographics of the area began changing and the volunteers found that most of the clientele being served with clothing from the Helper Shop could no longer afford to live in the upwardly mobile Brookhaven area. These clients moved northward to Chamblee and Doraville and their needs were more than just clothing. The volunteers realized there was a larger need that couldn’t be ignored.

The Suthers Center for Christian Outreach, a outstanding success and influence in the community, developed from the ambitious nature and remarkable determination of several influential Brookhaven individuals and their churches.

3110 Ashford Dunwoody Rd NE
Dunwoody, Georgia 30319-2971
Map It

sutherscenter.org

Email hidden; Javascript is required.

404.228.0777