The Sumter branch of the Fuller Center began work building a home for Tiffany Sims on Monday, April 14, at 220 South Dudley Street Americus. Georgia Southwestern University volunteers donned yellow hard hats and aprons in preparation for the build. GSW refers to the project as “The Big Event 2025: Blitz Build,” with students gaining the opportunity to give back to their local community. This will be the second annual “Big Event” held. Phoebe Sumter and South Georgia Technical College will also send volunteers at later stages of the project.

David Snell, president of the Fuller Center, thanked the volunteers. “These projects are a blessing, not only to the family, but to all of us who get a chance to work on it.”

President and Executive Director of the Americus-Sumter branch of the Fuller Center, Jody Wade, gave a brief address, thanking an anonymous benefactor who helped raise over half of the money for the house. Among those who donated, Citizen’s bank gave $10,000, and Shivers also provided discounted material, though Wade was unable to provide a complete list of donors, saying some might want to remain anonymous.

Sims, a mother of seven, thanked those who gathered to build her a home. “Thank you all for everything that you’ve done, and we’ll be eternally grateful for [your] help.”