The Fuller Center of Webster Parish

Blitz Build Volunteers from California, Georgia, Sibley and Minden, LA.

Homes for two evacuee families take shape.

One of the homes is sponsored by author John Grisham.

But it was surprising how quickly the benefits of association with this legendary champion of affordable housing would begin to materialize. Little did they know their building capacity would soon increase dramatically with Fuller Center house sponsorships. To sponsor a house, a donor contributes $50,000 to the local "Covenant Partner."

Within weeks, two house sponsorships were pledged. The first came from Wes and Jean Wheeler from Americus, Georgia. The Wheelers are long-time friends and supporters of Millard Fuller and wanted to assist an evacuee family from Hurricane Katrina. Several displaced families were still residing in the Minden area and soon the Fuller Center of Webster was awarded a $50,000 grant to build one of them a home. But that was just the beginning.

Shortly after news of that sponsorship was learned, The Fuller Center of Webster was notified that there was a second sponsorship available - if the local covenant partner could match the $50,000 gift. This sponsorship was offered by a world famous Southern author favorite son - John Grisham, the critically acclaimed writer of legal and courtroom dramas.

Grisham and his wife Renee also desired to assist a Katrina evacuee family. Upon hearing the second round of good news from Millard Fuller, Webster parish Fuller Center supporters immediately set out to raise their matching $50,000. Despite high poverty in this largely rural parish of northwest Louisiana, the task was accomplished in three months.

The result was the "Red, White, & Blue Blitz Build" in Minden. Under the supervision of Dan Dahlmer, a long-time Fuller Center volunteer, walls for three houses were constructed by over 600 high school and college students from The Vineyard Church in Cincinnati, Ohio and shipped to Louisiana by truck. On July 14th, the walls started going up on the two houses.

With volunteer help from the local area, plus a dedicated volunteer from California and another from Bossier City, LA, the houses really took shape the first week led by house leaders Joel Fortgang, a veteran Fuller Center and Habitat construction supervisor from Georgia, as well as Sal Gonzalez, Ronnie Maxwell, Billy Joiner, and Chris Nelson from the local covenant partner. VISTA volunteer Melissa Foster coordinated the many volunteers who came to build.

By the third week the two houses were approaching completion with the help of a group of volunteers from New World United Methodist Church in Arlington, Texas. "This was the third time in recent years that New World has come over to Webster Parish to help us build a simple, decent home with a deserving family," stated Park. "They are truly an awesome group of volunteers, and the timing was just perfect for them to be here toward the end of this two-house project."

The two houses were dedicated on Aug. 2nd just before New World UMC left to go back to Texas. According to Park, there were still some finishing touches to be accomplished, and the two families were able to move into their new homes in late August.

Kevin and Gretchen Johnson and their 4-year old son, Kevin, Jr. are the proud new homeowners of one of the houses. Kevin's mother Julie Johnson and his brother Leroy are at home in the house next door. Home - in houses they helped build.

"Two houses in less than two months," Park exclaimed. "We've never done that in our 17 year history. We give all the glory to God and the deepest thanks to The Fuller Center for Housing, Millard Fuller, Wes and Jean Wheeler, and John and Renee Grisham for having faith in us and helping us accomplish this wonderful project."

In the 17 years of their existence, Fuller Center of Webster (formerly Webster Habitat for Humanity) has built 28 houses and completed one major renovation in partnership with Webster Parish families. "Our fiscal year runs from July 1st to June 30th," concluded Park. "By the end of FY '09, we will have built seven (7) new houses and helped almost 30 individuals move into much better housing conditions." For a rural parish in northwest Louisiana, it doesn't get much better than that.