THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WALB) - When a Thomasville resident noticed a school bus dropping children off at the Red Roof Inn, questions quickly spread across social media: How are these families living here?

Within weeks, the Thomasville community rallied together, flooding the hotel with donations to help their neighbors in need.

Dozens of families in a Thomasville hotel

Dozens of families call the Red Roof Inn home. Hotel management said some face previous evictions. Many have children to provide for.

“We started out with about 20 to 25, 30 families at the most that are here long-term. And that goes from people that just came in yesterday,” said Linda Cooper, front desk manager at the Red Roof Inn.

Cooper says in the past month, the hotel has seen an influx of families moving in. When word spread, the community responded with an outpouring of support, providing food, clothing, and toys.

Donations overflow

For residents like Ashley Bragg, the community’s generosity has been life-changing.

“It helps a lot, you know what I mean? Especially like shoes and stuff like that. They’re expensive,” Bragg said. “I have young children, so it’s, like, the cereal, canned goods, anything like that. It helps a lot.”

Red Roof management faces new challenges

While Cooper says she’s grateful for the community’s support, the volume of donations has created an unexpected challenge—turning her role into something far beyond her job description.

“My job description says I’m the front desk manager, right? So I’m expecting to come in, check in, check out people,” Cooper said. “I’m steadily trying to organize and just to make it easier on us, but also easier on the people that are trying to look for things, so that hopefully they don’t have to spend hours up here in the office looking.”

Cooper and the Red Roof employees are appreciative of every donation they’ve received, but sorting through boxes and trash bags filled with clothes, shoes, and toys has been overwhelming, with only two other employees to help.

San Juan Barnes, who handles maintenance at the hotel, has been working to organize the donations.

“The donations that’s coming in, we’re getting them. And as you can see, we’re putting them out, you know, the size of the size for kids, women, men, shoes, everything. You know, food, pantry stuff, everything. So, we’re putting them in direct order,” Barnes said.

How to Donate

Cooper has already seen success—one family has moved into a home, and others have had their stays covered by community members. She’s committed to continuing the effort but needs help staying organized.

Cooper wants the generosity to continue, but in a more efficient way.

For those wanting to help, management advises: Call before you donate. Sort by size at home. Give what families need most. That’s how Thomasville helps best.

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