Georgia Magazine - October 2022 - 42

Hometown HEROES
By Jackie Kennedy
Anthony Talley:
helping others,
$1 at a time
T
he idea for One Dollar Thursday came to him in his
sleep, according to Anthony Talley, a utility worker at
Diverse Power in LaGrange.
It all started in February 2017 after Talley, 43, had a conversation
with a high school classmate who was down on her luck.
" I felt like I had to do something for her, " he recalls. " At
3 a.m., it hit me. I kept hearing 'One Dollar Thursday,' and it
literally woke me up from my sleep. "
The next day, he posted a message on Facebook asking his
community to come together to purchase groceries for his friend
by donating just $1 each.
" We raised 120 bucks, " says Talley, who pulled a little more
from his own pocket " for a gift card to get her nails done so she
could feel like herself again. "
For Talley, that's what it's all about: helping people return to
a sense of normalcy after their lives have been disrupted. Over
the last five years, the thousands of dollars he's raised from Troup
County residents have served as balm to soothe hundreds of
heartaches.
Those hurts range from something as simple as needing new
shoes for school to needing help after a devastating event, such
as the loss of a life. The most raised in a single One Dollar
Thursday campaign was about $8,000 for a LaGrange man who
lost his wife, two children and home in a house fire. Last summer,
more than $6,000 came in to cover burial expenses for a young
murder victim.
Talley has a method for choosing his weekly cause: " First,
I pray-really hard-that God sends something to me. It usually
doesn't take very long. "
He might discover a need online or hear about one from a
trustworthy friend he's asked to make him aware of local
concerns. Each Wednesday, he posts a video detailing that week's
need, and almost immediately donations appear in his Cash App
and Venmo accounts.
" I commend Anthony's good work in the community, "
Diverse Power President/CEO Wayne Livingston says. " He has a
heart for all people and is always looking for ways to help others. "
Talley says his mission comes from understanding what it's
For more information, visit Talley's Facebook page,
facebook.com/anthony.talley.56. On Wednesdays, he posts
a video describing that week's cause with details about the
Cash App or Venmo accounts he uses to accept donations.
You also may request information about how to donate by
sending him a message on Facebook.
42 Georgia Magazine October 2022
like to be in need.
" I was almost homeless in 2010, " he recalls. " I lost my truck
and almost lost my house. I started to pray and understand that
God does things for a reason, and the reason for me was that he
had an assignment for me. I knew I was supposed to take care of
people. "
Jackie Kennedy is a LaGrange-based freelance writer and
editor.
JACKIE KENNEDY
http://www.facebook.com/anthony.talley.56
Georgia Magazine - October 2022

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