Friday, June 13, 2008

Volunteers to Celebrate Completion of Repair Work to Tornado-damaged Home

GFP Note: Yet again, Georgia residents show their compassion by helping others. Kudos to all the volunteers.

Three months after a tornado sent a massive tree crashing onto his house, volunteers will celebrate the completion of extensive repair work to the home of East Atlanta resident Grady McCollum on Saturday, June 14th.

A cookout will begin at 12 Noon, followed by a 2 P.M. dedication ceremony were volunteers from various non-profits, churches, community groups will be thanked. The home is located at 1393 Glenwood Avenue.

“We would like to commend everyone who answered the call and joined us in getting Mr. McCollum and other families back into their homes,” said City Councilmember Natalyn Archibong, who represents East Atlanta, one of the hardest areas. “The completion of Mr. McCollum’s home shows that anything is possible when a neighborhood is mobilized. It also shows the compassion we share in our community in times of tragedy.”

Among the groups that lent a helping hand to repair damaged homes and remove fallen trees were the Fuller Center for Housing, a Americas, Ga.-based non-profit organization dedicated to building and rehabilitating houses for people in need and our city’s own Hands on Atlanta, a metro area non-profit volunteer organization.

National Association of the Remodeling industry sponsored Mr. McCollum house by raising several thousands of dollars to help in repair costs, said Mark Galey, President of the Fuller Center for Housing of Greater Atlanta.

“Even individual homeowners have participated in helping with their own repairs. This has not been a hand-out but a hand-up.”

McCollum’s home was restored to pre-tornado condition, Galey said.

No comments: