Call to homeless charity produces volunteer army

The spirit of volunteering has spread quickly from Charlie Tudor and his wife to students at the Academy of Richmond County.

The result has been a renovated transition house for the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Augusta Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless families.

"My wife and I were redecorating our den and wanted to donate our sofa to someone who needed it," Mr. Tudor said. "When we called Interfaith, they told us about the house, and we decided that we wanted to help them out."

When Mr. Tudor, who is the International Baccalaureate program dean at Richmond Academy, mentioned the organization's need to his students, they wanted to join in the volunteer effort, he said.

Since September, about 60 students and several parents and faculty members have spent their Saturdays renovating one of the organization's nine transitional units.

They painted, laid carpeting, cleaned the yards, washed windows and stocked the kitchen with canned food. They also provided Christmas gifts, two soccer nets and soccer balls for the children.

On Dec. 18, the volunteers, representatives from Interfaith and Mayor Deke Copenhaver presented the house to a homeless family.

"It feels good knowing that you have helped a family in need," said Richmond Academy student David Skeen, 18. "We knew it was going to go to a family in need, but to actually meet them, it really humbles you and makes you value the experience even more."

Fellow student Joy Miller agreed.

"I enjoyed giving back to the community by helping an organization that helps others," the 16-year-old said. "It was a lot of work, but it was work I looked forward to doing each day we came out."

Transitional housing gives a family a home for 24 months, said Amanda Gray, the executive director of the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Augusta.

"We have two major criteria when selecting families for transitional housing," she said. "One, we verify that they are indeed homeless and, two, the family must have children."

There is also a background check on families and a verification of income, or lack of income, whichever is claimed. Families also must be able to live in a community setting and not use drugs, Mrs. Gray said.

The volunteers' efforts are much appreciated, said Sarah MacDonald, the organization's case manager.

"They were eager to come out, and they never complained," she said. "They worked hard and really made this house a home. It touches you to see people put their all into something for others."

For more information on Interfaith Hospitality Network, visit www.interfaith-network.com.

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.