This is about doing a good

deed for some local folks who daily do good deeds for local folks in need.

I attended a board meeting

last week of the Fayette Samaritans, and I want to say thanks to that

group and to you.

Thanks to the Samaritans for

being the "real thing," a volunteer group that exists as a joint

ministry of upwards of 30 local churches to help people who've hit one

of life's potholes and need immediate but temporary assistance.

And thanks to you for responding

to our stories this month about the Samaritans' need for a home to house

their charitable work. Dozens and dozens of you sent checks to aid the

folks who aid others.

A Fayetteville builder, Wayne

Leslie, who has been letting the group use a suite of offices in a building

he owns, has told them the charity can stay until they get their own home.

Leslie deserves our gratitude for helping a group of volunteers whose

one aim is to help folks in need. Leslie has volunteered one of his colleagues

to work with the Samaritans to help them find a piece of property and

construct their permanent home on it.

Even though Fayette is one

of the state's most affluent counties, there are local folks who hit hard

times and need a week's worth of groceries, or need help in keeping their

gas or electricity from being shut off, or need baby diapers and kids'

clothing or need reliable transportation in order to get and keep a steady

job. A steady stream of single parents and their kids receive helping

hands from the volunteers who staff the facility near IHOP in Fayetteville.

"They're a unique organization,"

Fayette County Commissioner Linda Wells said in last week's paper. "They

spend virtually every penny of every donation they get on helping people."

She said the group had received

more than $129,000 in donations in 2001, but only spent $385 in administrative

expenses. I say that is an exceedingly good use of your donations.

The Samaritans get funds from

local churches on a regular basis, but can use that money only for direct

help for the charity's "clients," the folks who come seeking

assistance. The organization's rules say they can't use any of that money

for a building or for property. And that's why they need our help.

The group can accept donations

from individuals and businesses that are earmarked for buying property

and constructing a building.

Let's help the Samaritans raise

enough money to build their own permanent home. It will take upwards of

$400,000, but Fayette folks have big hearts.

The Samaritans need a central

location in the county, preferably Fayetteville, to make it easier for

folks in need to get to them. And they need a building of at least 2,500

square feet, about the size of an average house, to provide storage space

for donated food and clothing and to house offices where volunteers can

help clients.

Do you have any ideas, suggestions,

vacant property? Please contact me at my e-mail address: [email protected].

Do you have any money you'd

like to donate to help the Samaritans get their building? Make your check

out to Fayette Samaritans, mark it for the "building fund" and

mail it to P.O. Box 1071, Fayetteville, GA 30214. It's tax deductible

and goes toward making a difference in your own county. Let's help Fayette's

volunteer helpers continue to make a difference right where we live.