Showers of Hope: Grady's Partnership with Flowing With Blessings

"If there's one thing you can count on, it's me," says Nicky Crawford, founder of Flowing With Blessings.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, in partnership with Grady’s Office of Health Equity, Nicky pulls his trailer into the parking lot behind our hospital. But this isn't just any trailer - it's a lifeline for people experiencing homelessness, offering three clean and fully operational shower stalls.

Nicky and his wife, Deborah, launched this labor of love in March 2022, driven by the belief that everyone deserves to "feel clean, comfortable, and valued." In just over two years, they've provided more than 5,000 showers, transforming lives one wash at a time.

Flowing With Blessings doesn't stop at showers though. While waiting their turn, clients can enjoy barbering services, hot meals, and connections to community resources. And earlier this summer they launched a laundry service allowing people to wash their clothes with an antibacterial detergent.

Their vision – "to encourage proper hygiene, restore dignity, and offer fresh hope through hot showers" – resonates deeply with Grady's mission to reduce health disparities in our community. These needed services not only improve individual health but also reduce the risk of communicable diseases among vulnerable populations.

With Grady’s own research showing the significant impact that increasing health awareness and access to preventive services can have, we’re proud to support organizations like Flowing With Blessings and their extraordinary efforts to bring information and services to people in our community.