Ohio college students spend break working on Albany homes

ALBANY — It’s spring break time, and some 30 students piled out of two vans in March, not in Daytona Beach or Panama City, but in Albany at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church.

Their 12-hour journey brought them here from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, on behalf of the Fuller Center for Housing for a week of service work, repairing homes for people unable to afford having the work accomplished. The coed students were scheduled to work on three homes in Albany repairing and replacing roofs and plumbing and installing vinyl siding, under the supervision of professional contractors, and also doing yard work as needed.

The overall projects were coordinated by Stacey Driggers, an Albany resident who serves as U.S. Director of Covenant Partnership Development for the Fuller Center, which is headquartered in Americus.

All of the students, including Lindsey Swihert and Chris McCoy, both of Ohio, were looking forward to what McCoy called an “amazing” experience.

On their first work day in Albany, the group gathered at the first work site at Mark Brunson’s home on West 2nd Avenue. Episcopal Deacon Jim Purks, a retired journalist who also serves on Fuller Center’s board of directors, opened the day with a few remarks and offered a prayer.

Deacon Purks cited the biblical admonition of “working with each other for the glory of God” and reminded the students, “You not only get to work together but to grow closer to each other” while partnering to complete their tasks. He also spoke briefly about his work covering the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and as deputy press secretary in President Jimmy Carter’s administration during the late 1970s.

Brunson, the homeowner, commented, “In this election year, we hear a lot of sloganeering about Christian values, about ‘Making America Great,’ but these people, both the young volunteers and the generous businesses, are actually acting on it. They show all the traits of the community we hear of in the early part of the Acts of the Apostles; fearless giving, uncomplaining service, warm generosity, as opposed to cold charity. They have done more to give hope and warmth to a heart hurt and driven to despair by thriving selfishness and fear than any of the faces sounding off on television! This what all Americans, all people of faith, all ‘humans’ are, when they are at their best. There is no other way I can describe this.”

Although the Fuller Center for the last 11 years has worked nationally and internationally, this is their inaugural project in Albany. Driggers said the project here would not have been possible without the support of three main sponsors – Sunniland Roofing, Helen’s Roofing & Vinyl Siding, and Richter Roofing – who supplied materials, labor, and supervision. Short & Paulk Building Supply also contributed roofing materials.

Jason Cobb of Sunniland Corporation’s roofing division described a nearly perfect storm of circumstances leading to the company’s participation in the project. The company is based and operates primarily in Florida but has two locations in Georgia, in Albany and Valdosta. Fairly new here, they wanted to raise their local profile and develop a community relationship.

“We want to help with things like that (the Fuller Center projects),” he said, and were looking for opportunities, and then, “Stacey walked in.” Also, he said, “Everybody is excited to work with them (the college students).”

Greg Richter of Richter Roofing and two of his employees worked the Saturday previous to the students’ arrival preparing a roof for shingle installation. On Monday, he was impressed with the students’ attitude and performance.

Richter said, “The college students were willing to work, learn, and jump right in on the task of installing the roof and also carry the shingles up the ladder.” He was especially impressed with the young women “and how hard they worked. Three of the girls – McKayla, Kayla, and Lizzy – insisted on not switching out and stayed on the roof the whole time.

“Not often do you see college students willing to serve others, but especially when they are doing it during their spring break,” he added. “God has indeed blessed Richter Contracting Company, and helping others in need is an enjoyable task.”

Driggers said the students loved their accommodations in the parish hall at St. Patrick’s. Members of St. Patrick’s, Porterfield UMC, and Central Baptist Church, among others, provided meals and dining space for the workers during the week. The Albany YMCA allowed the students use of its showers.

“It has been wonderful from start to finish,” said St. Patrick’s Rector the Rev. Jay Weldon. “I think back to how a couple of the work projects they have done were known to me before all of this started and I did not think we were going to have the resources to do those. But then working with the Fuller Center and this particular group from Ohio has mean that we have been able to do some major projects that have required a lot of time and energy and money. Another thing is that the students have been amazing. Watching them as the week has gone on and seeing them really putting their hearts and souls into it has been very encouraging. I think the world of them.”

Work didn’t occupy the students’ entire week. They spent the day touring Americus, Plains, and Andersonville and enjoyed lunch at Koinonia Farms in Sumter County.

In addition to the churches and roofing/contracting companies, other sponsors and partners included Hughes Hardware, Griffin Lumber, and Darton College.

The Fuller Center for Housing was started in 2005 by the late Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity, after his departure from Habitat. His widow, Linda Fuller, continues working to further his vision of adequate, affordable housing on a global scope.