Fran Oliver, director of Mercy Ministries, at the ministry's headquarters. JONATHAN ERNST/STAFF

Mrs. Oliver is the director of Mercy Ministries, which operates a day-care center for the homeless and an after-school program for children on Laney-Walker Boulevard.

It began when Mrs. Oliver and her husband, Jerry, were volunteering at Greater Augusta Presbyterian Ministry.

"We found that one of the biggest needs was that the homeless had nowhere to go in the daytime," she said. "So after a few years of that we found some people who thought like we did, and we started this ministry."

Mercy Ministries opened in the old Augusta Wholesale Florists' building on Laney-Walker Boulevard in May. The space was provided by the neighboring Seeds of Hope Church.

"We moved in and were just flying by the seat of our pants to see what we needed," Mrs. Oliver said.

The homeless men spend the night at the Salvation Army but have to leave by 5:30 a.m. Those who have nowhere to go end up on the street, she said.

"We bought the bus for the children's program because the way to end homelessness is to start with the kids," Mrs. Oliver said. "You've got to start with the kids and get them through school to keep them from ending up like that."

Mercy Ministries provides shelter, comfort and help between 35 and 40 homeless men each day. Some are old and sick. Hospitals often call to say they are discharging someone that day who has nowhere to go.

At the ministry, the men can watch television, work on the center's computers, play games and use the telephones to call about employment or disability claims.

"If they have a job, our bus takes them back uptown to the job," Mrs. Oliver said.

The Olivers feel that God has called them to do the work they do.

"And there's joy and reward in this kind of work you can't get anywhere else," Mrs. Oliver said. "Not anywhere else. I worked 35-40 years out in business. You know, you move papers from one side of the desk to the other.

"But here, you can really see what you've done for somebody, even if it's just a ride or helping find a job, or clothes or food for the kids or food for the men, you get a feeling of accomplishing something.

"And when we see them get an apartment and move out, it's just wonderful. We've had two this week move on to their own places."

Mercy Ministries operates on donations and "plenty of good volunteer help."

"On Thursday nights, we have two teachers," Mrs. Oliver said. "And we always need volunteers for the children, whether you're a teacher or not, because it's more mentoring they need."

The Olivers may not be able to keep the doors open forever, but so far the Lord has blessed them, she said.

"And, we get the funds in to pay the bills, so that's the trick," she said.

FRAN OLIVER

OCCUPATION: Director, Mercy Ministries, which operates a day-care center for the homeless and an after-school program on Laney-Walker Boulevard

FAMILY: Husband, Jerry; daughter, Javonia Powell; and two grandchildren. All live in "one big happy house" on Stevens Creek Road in Columbia County.

HOBBIES: Reading detective stories and murder mysteries, gardening, crafts, watching television and crocheting stocking caps for the homeless men

QUOTE: "We get a lot more out of it than we give. I think everybody feels that way. It's kind of addictive."

--From the Monday, November 11, 2002 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle