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By Kathleen Calcutt

Tiffany Simms, a mother of seven and a CNA, has worked hard all of her life: Double shifts, late nights, volunteering at the children’s schools, saving. Her one dream was a forever home for her family. But no matter how hard she tried, the cost of homes kept going up and her dream kept drifting farther out of reach. Then, in April, 2024, after watching scores of volunteers build a house (308 S. Hampton Street, April, 2024, Big Event Build) across the street from her rental house, she submitted an application to the Americus Sumter Fuller Center. The application/ interview process was rigorous. She provided proof of stable employment, background and financial documents, information on all of her children – her whole life story, really. Then two weeks later it happened. She received a call from Fuller Center staff. “They wanted to meet me for another interview at my house.”  “You’ve been chosen,” they said when they arrived. The most amazing words Simms had ever heard. It was real. Simms would be the recipient of the 2025 Fuller Center/South Georgia Tech/Phoebe Sumter Medical Center Build.

Over 100 volunteers, working under the supervision of experienced local builder Peter Salemme, (Americus Handyman, LLC), would build her a home in three weeks. Of course, there were strings attached. Simms and her family would have to “give back” in the form of 500 hours of volunteer work on her home and on future Fuller builds, and pay back the cost of the 0% interest loan over the next 30 years. “No problem,” says Simms, “I’m so grateful. The hours I am spending on my own home and helping others is teaching me valuable skills. The pride I feel is helping me to appreciate this incredible gift even more. Wow, people are coming from everywhere, even New York. They truly believe in what they are doing. I still can’t believe they would come here and help little ole me, in little Americus. I want everyone to know how thankful my children and I are for all they have done for us. I plan to continue to volunteer to help others.”

If you have never participated in a Fuller Center build, here is how it all works. No wand waving here, it is all hard work. The first step is financing. For the Simms Build, Jody Wade, Executive Director of the Americus Sumter Fuller Center contacted Mike Perigine of New York and made the Fuller Ask. “Mike and his friends, all retired business men, had volunteered on and financed previous Fuller Greater Blessing projects (renovations of $10,000.00 or less to make homes ‘safe, sound and secure’). Mike was impressed with the ministry and wanted to get involved with a big build in the future. Mike and his friends raised $90,000.00 to finance the Simms build. They traveled down a few weeks before the start of the build to work on the pre-build with Peter [Salemme], framing walls and so forth,” says Wade.

The key element to any build is an experienced foreman. Since 1992 Peter Salemme has built hundreds of homes all over the world as a volunteer and paid construction manager for both Habitat for Humanity and the Americus Sumter Fuller Center for Housing. Salemme starts with stock plans provided to him in an e-mail, in this case, a four bedroom, two bath home, and a deadline. In this case, May 5th. Then he “mentally calculates” what is needed for the build and gets to work gathering the materials and contracting with local tradesmen like Wayne’s Electric, Parker’s Heating & Air Conditioning, John Framsborough Plumbing and George Williamson Dry Wall, who all agree to work on the build at a reduced rate and on an insanely tight schedule. Two of Salemme’s sons, Paul Henri and Alex also brought their considerable skills to the build.

After pre-build, the real fun begins. Three weeks before the big dedication ceremony, volunteers start arriving at the job site. In this case, 300 students and staff the first week from Georgia Southwestern State University, 150 the second week from South Georgia Technical College and 50 the third week from Phoebe Health System. One would imagine that coordinating all of these untrained volunteers would by a lot like “herding ducks.” But Salemme, a natural teacher, sorts, trains and transforms them into a productive force to complete the day’s tasks and stay on schedule. “A build like this is a win, win, win for everyone involved,” Salemme says. “Tiffany [Simms] receives a home for her family with a manageable 0% interest mortgage loan. The volunteers learn valuable skills like roofing, siding, framing and flooring, in a fun and safe environment. And, best of all, you meet great like-minded people and make friends for a lifetime.”

The Fuller Center will turn over the keys to Simms the week of May 5 at a dedication ceremony, but according to  Salemme, the skyrocketing cost of materials has resulted in a project short-fall of approximately $10,000.00. “I’m doing the ‘Fuller Ask’,” he says. “Please consider donating to the Fuller Center for this build and help Tiffany Simms realize her dream of a home for her family.” To donate, call the Fuller Center at 229-621-0259 or drop by a check at its office, 608 McGarrah St., Americus, GA 31719. All donations are tax-deductible.

Correction: Jody Wade’s name was initially misspelled in an earlier version.

Correction: The original article stated there were 30 volunteers from GSW in the first week. There were 300.

Correction: The original article said 30 volunteers from SGTC. The total is 150.