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House brings joy to family
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| Recent University of Cincinnati graduate Brian Whitling works on a house for Edwin and Lizzy Cunningham and their five children. The Cunninghams and volunteer labor are putting up the house on a piece of land donated to the Fuller Center. |
By Matt Henderson Staff Writer
Lizzy Cunningham said her new home would give her children something they have never had before: their own rooms.
She, her husband and their five children currently live in a three-bedroom mobile home with her parents.
"My kids have never had their own rooms," she said.
The Cunninghams are getting their new home at 151 John English Drive thanks to the Greater Atlanta Fuller Center, the Fuller Center for Housing Inc., and Horace Ramey.
Ramey picked the Cunninghams as the recipient of the land after he and his family donated it to the Fuller Center. The land had been at the center of a conflict of interest that led to an impeachment effort last August against Ramey's father, Mayor Tom Ramey Sr.
"I told Horace when he donated the property that one day we would be sitting on the porch drinking lemonade," said Mark Galey, Greater Atlanta Fuller Center president. "I told him we would make lemonade out of this lemon."
Lizzy's son, Jordan, 9, helped dig out the basement Sunday where his new room will be located.
"It's awesome," he said as he shoveled dirt from what will be the basement floor. "I'll be glad when it finally gets here."
Jordan's brother Isaac, 6, also helped.
"I am excited about getting my first house," he said.
Their father, Edwin, said the start of construction on his new home made Father's Day a little more special. He said it had been three years since he successfully kicked a drug habit. Since that time, he said he had grown closer to his children and family.
"I never imagined I would be here and have my own house," he said.
Eight University of Cincinnati students came to help build the house. The students were part of a group called Serve Beyond Cincinnati. The group first worked with the Fuller Center on rebuilding projects in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. This was their first trip to Georgia.
"I feel like my life has been blessed," freshman Josiah Leeman said. "It feels good to give back."
"I think it is a very rewarding experience," sophomore Lauren Fournier said. She added it was her first trip with the group. "It is rewarding for myself, and I get to help a family who needs it."
The students will be framing the house through Friday and doing other work. Galey said the Fuller Center would need additional help before the project can be completed.
"We will need additional financial donations and ongoing volunteers to complete this project," he said. "We would like to see the Cunninghams celebrate Christmas here."
Members of the community and volunteers from all over the state came out to help with the construction of the house.
Billy Holcomb Jr., owner of Billy's Concrete, said he grew up in Rabun County with Lizzy and the rest of the Cunningham family. He paid two of his workers out of his own pocket to help pour the house's concrete footings.
"If there ever was a deserving family, they're it," he said. "It makes me feel good to be able to help them out."
Robert Soens, founder and owner of Pinnacle Custom Builders in Atlanta, designed the house. Much of the wood used to build the house came from a custom "eco-home" he built for the Atlanta Home Show.
He said he enjoyed working on this project because "it gives me the opportunity to give something back using the skills I use to make a living."
"I just thank God," Lizzy Cunningham said. "My little girl will finally have her own room, and she is on cloud nine."
She proudly displayed a note written by her daughter Harlie, 7, on the last day of school.
"I love my friends and family," the note said. "I will love my house that my momma and daddy are going to build."
She, her husband and their five children currently live in a three-bedroom mobile home with her parents.
"My kids have never had their own rooms," she said.
The Cunninghams are getting their new home at 151 John English Drive thanks to the Greater Atlanta Fuller Center, the Fuller Center for Housing Inc., and Horace Ramey.
Ramey picked the Cunninghams as the recipient of the land after he and his family donated it to the Fuller Center. The land had been at the center of a conflict of interest that led to an impeachment effort last August against Ramey's father, Mayor Tom Ramey Sr.
"I told Horace when he donated the property that one day we would be sitting on the porch drinking lemonade," said Mark Galey, Greater Atlanta Fuller Center president. "I told him we would make lemonade out of this lemon."
Lizzy's son, Jordan, 9, helped dig out the basement Sunday where his new room will be located.
"It's awesome," he said as he shoveled dirt from what will be the basement floor. "I'll be glad when it finally gets here."
Jordan's brother Isaac, 6, also helped.
"I am excited about getting my first house," he said.
Their father, Edwin, said the start of construction on his new home made Father's Day a little more special. He said it had been three years since he successfully kicked a drug habit. Since that time, he said he had grown closer to his children and family.
"I never imagined I would be here and have my own house," he said.
Eight University of Cincinnati students came to help build the house. The students were part of a group called Serve Beyond Cincinnati. The group first worked with the Fuller Center on rebuilding projects in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. This was their first trip to Georgia.
"I feel like my life has been blessed," freshman Josiah Leeman said. "It feels good to give back."
"I think it is a very rewarding experience," sophomore Lauren Fournier said. She added it was her first trip with the group. "It is rewarding for myself, and I get to help a family who needs it."
The students will be framing the house through Friday and doing other work. Galey said the Fuller Center would need additional help before the project can be completed.
"We will need additional financial donations and ongoing volunteers to complete this project," he said. "We would like to see the Cunninghams celebrate Christmas here."
Members of the community and volunteers from all over the state came out to help with the construction of the house.
Billy Holcomb Jr., owner of Billy's Concrete, said he grew up in Rabun County with Lizzy and the rest of the Cunningham family. He paid two of his workers out of his own pocket to help pour the house's concrete footings.
"If there ever was a deserving family, they're it," he said. "It makes me feel good to be able to help them out."
Robert Soens, founder and owner of Pinnacle Custom Builders in Atlanta, designed the house. Much of the wood used to build the house came from a custom "eco-home" he built for the Atlanta Home Show.
He said he enjoyed working on this project because "it gives me the opportunity to give something back using the skills I use to make a living."
"I just thank God," Lizzy Cunningham said. "My little girl will finally have her own room, and she is on cloud nine."
She proudly displayed a note written by her daughter Harlie, 7, on the last day of school.
"I love my friends and family," the note said. "I will love my house that my momma and daddy are going to build."
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