Open Arms Clinic on Big A Road has expanded its storage building thanks to contributions from a variety of people and entities.
Material donations and volunteer labor all played into the building’s expansion.
Open Arms Clinical Director Sherry Beavers said that it became clear more room was needed for storage as the medical equipment had to be rearranged daily.
Beavers said that Open Arms receives medical equipment from people who had the equipment but no longer needed it.
She said those equipment donations were made in “the hope that we would be able to donate to someone else (who needed it).”
From medical beds to walking canes, the storage shed houses a variety of equipment.
But getting the building extended was going to take money, fsome $8,000 that the non-profit clinic did not have on hand.
Enter Bill Stephens, who volunteers at the clinic and is building superviser.
“Bill took on getting it done,” Beavers said.
Stephens said that it took about six weeks of visiting local businesses to get all the material and money donated.
He said that Adams Building Supply donated about 1/3rd of the materials. Home Depot and Lowe’s in Cornelia also contributed to the effort, Buddy Hanson and Hanson Metal Company donated roofing metal. Michael Rouse, owner of 2A C&R Firearms, also donated funds that paid for paint and other materials.
Stephens said that it took two days with the help of Tim Wlmont, Shannon Wigley, Frank Moore, and Danny Yearwood to build the expansion.
“We didn’t have to spend a penny,” Stephens said. “It (the expansion) has made all the difference in the world.”
