Dedications held as finale for weekend of home repairs

NEW!  View photos from the McDonough Build.

Tears mixed with sweat Saturday in McDonough, Ga. when 12 houses were dedicated as part of the Fuller Center’s Greater Blessing Box program.

The dedications were the finale to a weekend of hard work on the part of 112 student volunteers from the River of Life program in northern Georgia. Read more about the entire 17-home repair project here.

“This means so much to me,” Lillie Miller said at the dedication of her house, the weekend’s largest project. Many of the walls, ceilings and the roof needed replacing as a result of termite infestation.

Miller’s home was the location of the dedication finale, featuring words and prayers of blessing from McDonough mayor Billy Copeland, Rev. James Miller, Rev. Shamara Lewis, project manager Mark Galey and Pastor of Wesley Way United Methodist Church, Greg Meadows.

“Today is a special day in the lives of Lillie Miller and many other families here who have benefitted form the hard work and generosity of each and every one of you,” Mayor Copeland said to the crowd of volunteers.

Prior to the finale, Mark Galey traveled from each of the other houses for individual dedications. At each location, he presented the homeowner a Greater Blessing Box in front of the group of students that had worked on the house.

One student in each group said a few short words to his or her group leaders and presented them, as well as the homeowners, with Fuller Center tool belts.

A prayer followed by a group shout of “Oyee!” ended each dedication.

The final five homes will be dedicated later, when the homeowners are available.

Find out more about FCH Greater Atlanta here.