Over 400 GSW volunteers build home for local family in three weeks

The Blitz Build was GSW’s inaugural Big Event service initiative

 AMERICUS, GA (April 25, 2024) — On April 19, Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) and The Fuller Center for Housing presented a local family with the keys to their new home 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 St., drawing hundreds from both the GSW and Americus communities to witness the unveiling of the new home.

“This experience has been amazing,” said Alex Espitia, president of GSW’s Student Government Association and member of the President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program. “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 years for a house for himself and his three children, 11-year-old Bentley and three-year-old twins Asher and Auri.

“This is such a joy,” said Robinson at the dedication ceremony who put in “sweat equity” hours working on his lunch breaks. “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; Alex Espitia, president of GSW’s Student Government Association; Sarah Brittany Greneker, who spoke on behalf of Laura Boren, executive vice president for student engagement and success; and Lee Kinnamon, mayor of Americus.

Mayor Kinnamon boasted about 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.”

View pictures and videos from the Blitz Build and Dedication Ceremony at fullercenter.org/bigevent and GSW’s Facebook album, The Big Event: Blitz Build | 2024.