If you've ever wondered what an old-fashioned barn-raising is like,

here's your chance to find out.

Joseph Sams School is looking for about 200 volunteers to raise the

walls of its new facility Feb. 6.

Don't worry if you're not skilled at construction, says school director

Janet Smola. "We're looking for both professionally skilled and unskilled

people from throughout the community," said Smola.

The nonprofit school serves the needs of children with physical,

intelligence and developmental disabilities and is supported mainly by

private donations. Community benefactors not only support the school, but

also often get involved in its mission, said Smola.

"Rusty Stewart, manager of the Peachtree

City/Kedron Kroger, has been a great supporter, and spent some

time recently working with a child who suffers from autism,"

said Smola. "The connection he was able to make was just

unbelievable."

A new home for the school is under construction at

the intersection of Yorktowne and Brandywine drives,

directly behind Fayette Medical Center off Ga. Highway 54. Take 54

to Yorktowne, go to Brandywine and you'll see the

construction site.

Workers currently are pouring foundation walls and

setting steel in place. On the barn-raising day, volunteers will

do all the framing in one day, said Smola.

She suggested that volunteers call the school at

770-461-5894 and leave their names and phone numbers in case

weather or some other circumstance forces a change in plans.

Otherwise, show up at the construction site by 8 a.m.

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