FITZGERALD, Georgia — When Cauley Bowen found out that the vacant lot next to his house on a quiet end of West Orange Street would become the site of a three-week Fuller Center for Housing blitz build, he was less than enthused.

Yet, as he and his wife watched dozens of volunteers from the local community join others from across the nation to build an affordable new home in partnership with homeowner Brandy Spivey and her children, Karson and Randa, his trepidation transformed into joy.

He was touched by the hard work put in by the homeowners as they contributed 234 sweat equity hours alongside volunteers during the Millard Fuller Legacy Build. He was moved by how people from different walks of life, wealthy and working-class, liberals and conservatives, all united for a worthy cause.

“There were Democrats and Republicans out here working together, with joy, and getting things done,” Bowen said Saturday before the Spiveys’ home was officially dedicated by the Fitzgerald Fuller Center for Housing. “Our country could learn a lot from what happened here the past three weeks.”

Before the build was over, Bowen joined the volunteers and led the flooring installation team. Though he did not know Brandy or her children before the build, they exchanged hugs and shared tears of joy on dedication day.

In fact, in a moment that seemed fitting for the dedication of The Fuller Center’s 10,000th home, Bowen performed the ceremonial handing of house keys to Spivey, who then opened the front door and welcomed volunteers, supporters, and neighbors into her new home.

“It’s more than I could have ever imagined,” Spivey said.

It was the second Fuller Center home built in Fitzgerald, following the blitz build for the Morris family in 2025. Tyler and Taylor Morris made a point of bringing their children to the dedication to witness the moving occasion.

“This is so beautiful,” Taylor said.