Sandy Springs Realtor Debbie Sonnenshine was named one of 10 finalists in the National Association of REALTORS’® 2026 Good Neighbor Awards for founding Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta. 

Sonnenshine, an agent with Coldwell Banker Realty and former pediatric social worker, started the nonprofit after hearing about a young student who depended on school meals during the week but went hungry over the weekend because his parents couldn’t afford to feed him. 

Backpack Buddies works to fill that gap by providing Atlanta-area students with bags of healthy food every Friday. Since it was founded, the number of children it serves has grown from 750 to over 3,000. The group serves 50 schools thanks to the help of 35 local organizations, including churches, synagogues, civic organizations and Coldwell Banker.  

“I’m passionate about this,” said Sonnenshine, who serves as board secretary for the charity. “My dream would be for this to be taken national. There are so many groups doing this around the country and even in metro Atlanta. But I’d love to see this become centralized, so much more efficient and grow into a national organization that can be easily replicated in different counties.” 

Of the 10 Good Neighbor finalists, five winners will each receive a $10,000 grant and publicity for their nonprofit, while the five honorable mentions will receive $2,500 grants. Additionally, the top vote-getter will receive an additional $2,500 for their charity, and the two runners-up will receive another $1,250 each.  

To vote for Sonnenshine or any of the other finalists, visit realtor.com/goodneighbor between today and Oct. 24. Winners will be announced on Oct. 27.  

“This year’s 10 Good Neighbor Award finalists truly embody the spirit of service by going above and beyond to strengthen their communities, and we are proud to showcase the remarkable impact they have made,” said Anna Marie Castiglioni, head of Realtor.com Next.