Although Jim Friday's

participation as a juror on a child abuse case and his

subsequent curiosity are the known beginnings of the

Fayette Youth Protection Home, Inc. Friday gives credit

to a higher power. He says the roots of the Home can be

traced directly back to a prayer he made in anger.

He defiantly asked God

"what do you want of me?" and shortly

thereafter found himself serving on a jury for the first

time in his life which ultimately led to the

establishment of the home.

There are very few in

Fayette County who are not familiar with "The Friday

Home." While Jim Friday may have been the first to

envision and pursue the concept of a "family-style

home" for children in need, many Fayette County

residents have had a hand in the development and

continued success of the home.

In 1986 a small group began

working to make a safe place for abused and neglected

children in Fayette County. The first home, the Friday

Home, opened in 1989 as a co-ed residential group home

for school-age children.

Friday noted, "I

initially set a goal of six months for opening the doors

of the first home. I was only off by a few years."

The Friday Home has ten

beds and was filled within seven days. It has been at

over 80% capacity since opening. A second home, the Asden

Johnson Home was recently opened in the Brooks area. The

ten beds were filled within a few days. Two beds are

usually reserved in each home for short-term emergency

care.

The majority of the

children placed in the two homes come through the

Department of Family and Children Services. While

priority is given to children from Fayette County,

children from other counties are also admitted.

The average stay for a

child is one year. Programming and staff are administered

Ministries.

Residents attend local

public schools, participates in community activities and

attends a local church. Funds to support the two homes

come from numerous sources. The State of Georgia and the

Fayette County Commission contribute to the home.

Additionally, money is

received from individuals, civic groups, businesses,

churches and others. Half of the proceeds from the

Fayette Thrift Shop are given to the Home and a variety

of fund-raisers are held throughout the year. Local

Realtors support the Home through the annual Noel

November Christmas tree fund-raiser. This year a portion

of the proceeds raised from the upcoming Wings over Dixie

air show will be donated to the home.

Volunteer opportunities for

seniors abound- as members of the FYPH Board of

Directors, to to assist with fundraising efforts, and to

work at the Fayette Thrift Shop. Individuals, civic

groups and churches provide special events and

activities. For those interested in discovering how they

can help, call 770-460-6652.

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