09/28/2026
Our very first Neighbor of the Year is...
JUDI CARLSON! 🎉
Today is National Good Neighbors Day and if anyone embodies what it means to be a great neighbor, it's Judi. For over a decade, she's shown up week after week at Malachi's Storehouse in Dunwoody, GA, where she's served as director and now continues on as a volunteer. Last year alone, Malachi's distributed over 700,000 pounds of food — all 100% volunteer-run — helping around 70,000 people a year.
But what really sets Judi apart is the community she's built. She's turned clients into volunteers, given teenagers a place to find purpose, and made sure everyone who walks through the door — whether they're picking up food or serving it — is treated with the same dignity and care.
She was nominated by Mayor Lynn Deutsch, who's known Judi since March 2020, when Judi said "yes" to a last-minute idea to help feed families as the pandemic hit (and never stopped saying yes since). We asked Lynn to deliver the news in person and Judi's reaction says it all. 🥹
Congratulations, Judi — thank you for setting the bar for what this new tradition is all about. 💚
