Easter Seals achieves Megan’s House goal

ALBANY — Carol Hollomon struggled for years to find respite care for her disabled daughter, Megan. It wasn’t until 2004, however, that a facility offering constant care for children with disabilities opened on Palmyra Road. By then, Megan had died at the age of 14.

Carol, now deceased, and Wayne Hollomon did not stop their work with Easter Seals with the loss of their child. The memories of Megan and the role Easter Seals played in the entire family’s life were reasons enough to continue their work on behalf of children like Megan. And it was this young girl’s life that gives its name to the facility.

Easter Seals Regional Family Support Manager Cathy Jenkins explained how staff works to know the children they serve before they arrive.

“We have an RN who develops a care plan and trained CNAs to follow through with those plans,” Jenkins said. “We learn about behavior, likes and dislikes, medical needs, physical needs, sleep habits and more. Each child has a personalized plan. We have some children who come sporadically and others who come on a regular schedule.”

Children can be cared for 24 hours a day for up to two weeks at a time until they reach the age of 18. Costs, depending upon the needs of the child, run from $100-$200 per day. Parents are asked to pay what they can, many paying as little as $6 per day.

Jenkins also said that the children are not just kept inside during their stay at Megan’s House. Sometimes there are trips to Chehaw or the Flint RiverQuarium or even just a ride in the van. In addition, volunteers are always welcome to bring arts and crafts, music or storytime to the respite facility.

An article about the soon-to-open Megan’s House ran in The Albany Herald in December 2003. That story was based on information provided by Easter Seals Southern Georgia Director Beth English. The reporter who wrote the story asked English a number of questions about Megan’s House, its operation, staffing, service area, etc. Shortly after the story ran, a check for $5,000 arrived, just what was needed to open the doors in January 2004.

English says there are many stories similar to that one surrounding the history of Megan’s House.

“More recently,” English said, “we started getting all these small checks for Megan’s House. Some were $10, others $15 or $25. And then we got an invitation to a birthday party for a 2-year-old. On the invitation, in lieu of gifts, it was asked that donations be made to Megan’s House.”

On the 10th anniversary of Megan’s House, a capital campaign kicked off to build a bigger, better facility. The keynote speaker for the event was then-Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Frank Berry. Berry spoke briefly and the part of his message included news of an influx of $100,000 in funding. Another $30,000 was pledged that same evening by those in attendance.

Aside from the one-time state appropriation, Megan’s House has been funded solely through donations. The only regular fundraisers are the sale of the now iconic and collectible Christmas ornaments and from the annual Albany Bass Club Tournament in March. The club has, in fact, given the proceeds of its annual tournament to Easter Seals for 41 years.

“That is three generations of fishermen, including grandfathers, fathers and sons, that have supported Easter Seals,” English said.

As for the Christmas ornaments, the Dougherty County School System has given permission for Albany High School to be the subject of the official 2017 ornament. The unveiling of the ornament will take place as usual in November. Anyone wishing to pre-order, sight unseen, can do so by calling (229) 439-7061. Prepaid orders are guaranteed.

Donations to Megan’s House and to Easter Seals come in small and large amounts from individuals, civic clubs, schools, churches and businesses. Since May of this year alone, more than $20,000 has been given in gifts of $500 or less. Also of great importance to Megan’s House are the donations of goods such as paper products.

“We get really excited when someone donates a bucket full of cleaning supplies,” English said.

Aside from funding, finding a location for the new Megan’s House was a big hurdle. The need for an easy-to-locate site near resources with room for a playground all played into the hunt. A 1.5-acre site was located in August of last year on Forrester Parkway in Lee County.

Yielding, Wakeford & McGee Architects were hired for the design. W.J. Kirksey Construction was selected as the builder. Both are Albany firms. In fact, English said all the contractors and subcontractors on the project are local.

“We felt like that was the right thing to do, especially since so many local donations have made this whole thing possible,” she said.

When plans began in earnest, the expected cost for the new facility was $500,000. The figure soon jumped to $621,000. Because of the due diligence of the architects and builders, costs, with no risks to quality, have come down. A local cabinet company offered to donate all cabinets in the facility. The bottom line was lowered to $587,000.

Outside funding sources were sought, including from philanthropic foundations and grants. One such foundation in Atlanta, which wishes to remain anonymous, offered Easter Seals a challenge. When and if the capital campaign came within $100,000 of what was needed, the foundation would donate the remaining amount. On Aug. 14, a check for $70,848.61 arrived in the mail from yet another anonymous donor. This put Easter Seals over the challenge mark.

Donations are still being accepted for furniture, playground equipment, toys for the large indoor playroom, kitchen appliances and furnishings. A bedroom can be adopted to furnish by an individual, club, church or business. One bedroom already has that pledge.

The current Megan’s House has served this community well with its two bedrooms and one bathroom. The new location will have three beds, with another for emergencies, and multiple bathrooms, all meeting ADA standards.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of September. A public grand opening will come in late October. When the ribbon is cut, Megan’s House will open its doors debt-free.

“It only happened because the people of this community stepped up to the plate and supported Megan’s House,” English said.