More than 400 Georgia Southwestern volunteers help build home in three weeks

AMERICUS — Georgia Southwestern State University and The Fuller Center for Housing presented a local family with the keys to their new home on April 19 in a special dedication ceremony, the culmination of the Blitz Build as part of the university’s inaugural Big Event service initiative.

Approximately 420 volunteers from GSW, including faculty, staff and students, worked on the three-bedroom house for three weeks, alongside other volunteers from The Fuller Center and under the guidance of contractor Peter Salemme.

The ceremony took place at the residence on South Hampton Street, drawing hundreds from both the GSW and Americus communities to witness the unveiling of the new home.

“This experience has been amazing,” Alex Espitia, president of GSW’s Student Government Association and a member of the President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program, said. “The building of this home exemplifies the power of collective action. It’s a symbol of hope, solidarity, and the unwavering belief in the potential of every individual to create a positive change. It’s about service, it’s about leadership, it’s about personal growth. It’s our turn to give back to the community that gives so much to us, and this is one of the best ways we can do that.”

Emmanuel Robinson, a city of Americus employee, has been searching for years for a house for himself and his three children, 11-year-old Bentley and 3-year-old twins Asher and Auri.

“This is such a joy,” Robinson said at the dedication ceremony. “What a blessing! It’s just beautiful. I’m so grateful that [you all] took time out of your own schedule to work on a house for someone you don’t even know. I’m overjoyed, this is a dream come true.”

The project honored GSW alumni Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, who were heavily involved in Millard and Linda Fuller’s housing ministries and community service in general.

GSW plans for The Big Event to become an annual tradition centered around a large-scale community service initiative, fostering unity between the campus and local community.

The ceremony included words from Jody Wade, president of the Americus-Sumter Fuller Center for Housing; David Snell, international president of the Fuller Center for Housing; Linda Lee Purvis, former director of GSW’s President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program; Espitia; Sarah Brittany Greneker, who spoke on behalf of Laura Boren, executive vice president for student engagement and success; and Lee Kinnamon, mayor of Americus.

Kinnamon lauded the GSW students who, he said, “have certainly proven their worth to this community in this project. It would not have been done without them.”