This is our fifth workday. Though Craig Colorado is quite a
reach from Americus Georgia, their Fuller Center for Housing Covenant Partner
program is strong. They have a rental property and an ongoing build project in
the works, but being a small community the resources aren’t as many. Still, the
hard work of Neil Folks and Vicki Burns and their team is producing results.
Vicki has been a 28 year resident of Craig, hailing from Florida originally,
and a dynamic community leader who also owns Brass Key Realty, she’s the
Financial Secretary of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, and is
heavily involved with the local Interfaith Food Bank. I hope that when we’re
not here she can get some relaxation, for from the moment I first saw her two
days ago she hasn’t stopped. We can’t thank Vicki enough for her work
encouraging local businesses and churches toward our support. Craig Colorado
will not blend into the blur of towns we’ve passed through; this has been a
very memorable visit and experience.
We had eleven projects today so we split into teams to
accomplish them. Ours was to scrape and paint in the morning and then yard work
in the afternoon. This is an aging community so the needs of the elderly are
what need attending. That is what is unique about the Fuller foundation; the
Covenant Partners are autonomous so can attend to the needs they see in their
community without being tightly reined. As with any organization there must be sound
business practices followed, but this type of work must follow principles that
may seem counter to corporate mindset of central control. Charity needs are
best recognized and cared for by the immediate community as immediately as
possible. Volunteers such as I’ve seen with the Fuller Center have amazed and
inspired me. I hope to serve as well one day.
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