The Fayette Samaritans, a nonprofit

organization that helps those who are temporarily down and out, has been

down and out several times itself.

When it was begun 11 years

ago, the group was given some office space in the back of the Fayette

County Department of Family and Children's Services, until a year and

a half ago, when DFACS needed the space.

Leslie Contracting Co. allowed

the group to use office space at the firm's corporate office on North

Jeff Davis Drive in Fayetteville. Eventually, the charity's days would

be numbered again.

A campaign fund was begun six

months ago to enable the multi-church-supported charity to build its own

facility. So far, nearly $50,000 has been raised to construct a 2,400-square-foot

building.

The building is planned to

be large enough to house all donated food, clothing and furniture with

enough space to grow. It would include private offices for interviewing

potential recipients of emergency aid and adequate storage for items now

housed in rental lockers. All staff members volunteer their time, and

several of them must truck items back and forth to storage almost daily.

A group called the Square Foot

Ministry, a nonprofit Fayette group chartered last year, is also made

up of representatives of various churches. Its work is similar to that

of Habitat for Humanity, and it built a new home last fall for a family

on Church Street in Fayetteville.

The building trades volunteers

entered the Samaritan picture two months ago, and the two have formed

a partnership to construct a facility for the Samaritans. Working hand

in hand, they expect the building to be open in early May.

Land for the project has been

leased from the Fayette Christian Church. The church is located at the

corner of Hickory Road and New Hope Road.

The group was first organized

to interview needy Fayette citizens who needed food or clothing. Currently,

about 40 churches support the charity.

Its board of directors consists

of interested citizens as well as representatives from the supporting

churches.

Approximately $70,000 more

is needed to complete the project. Donations may be sent to the Fayette

Samaritans, 213 Jeff Davis Place, Suite 102, Fayetteville, Ga. 30214.

Write "building fund" on the tax-deductible check.