Henry Daily Herald

Photo by Johnny Jackson Ernest Johnson, a Fuller Center volunteer from Fort Worth, Texas, said he gets gratification from completing home repair projects for those in need.

McDONOUGH — The breeze from the open doors and windows wafted over Josephine Gaston as she took a deep breath and thanked some of those who helped repair her home.

“I’m blessed,” said Gaston, smiling. “I’ve got new friends. I sort of hate to see them leave.”

Gaston’s home was blessed in a dedication ceremony Friday. She is a recipient of this week’s a global all-volunteer home rehabilitation project for the needy. It is the Fourth Annual Millard Fuller Legacy Build for Fuller Center for Housing Inc., based in Americus.

Henry County Fuller Center for Housing Inc., a local covenant of the international Christian charity, was host for this year’s project to help four local families in need.

“I thought somebody needed this worse than me,” said Gaston. “This is my season. This is for me. We’ve got to pass it on. I’m really blessed.”

Gaston said she inherited the house from her deceased mother in 2004 and moved into the home after she retired in 2008. She has been trying ever since to make repairs on the home.

About 120 volunteers from around the country converged on Gaston’s home Monday to help her finish the job.

Her 1950s era home and three others in the McDonough neighborhood suffered from leaky roofs, broken bathrooms and rotted floors. The volunteers repaired them. They also replaced cabinets and painted walls and trim around the homes.

Ernest Johnson is a Fuller Center volunteer from Fort Worth, Texas. He has been helping build and repair homes since 1997. He said he gets satisfaction each time he looks out on a completed project as he did Friday in McDonough.

“It needs doing,” said Johnson. “There is an immediate satisfaction seeing something accomplished and seeing a smile on someone’s face.”

To learn more about the Henry County Fuller Center for Housing Inc., visit www.hcfullercenter.org, call 678-551-0800, or e-mail info@hcfullercenter.org.