AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Bridge Builders Communities is making great progress in launching the next phase of its project to build 25 tiny homes in Augusta.
Bridge Builder Communities leaders hosted a volunteer drive at the HUB for Community Innovation Augusta on Saturday to recruit people for the next phase of their project.
Volunteers are responsible for public relations, advertising and assisting with fundraising.
Project leaders are preparing to receive approval of construction plans from the City of Augusta in order to begin groundbreaking on the Merry Street property in September.
The 25 mini-houses are available for 18- to 25-year-olds who are growing out of the care system.
ShDonna Drumgoole, program director, said she is excited to get to the point in the project where they need to recruit more help. She said this project has been years in the making.
“I’ve been in the human services field for over 20 years and have always worked with families and children,” Drumgoole said. When I lived in Alaska, I worked with at-risk youth, and that gave me the idea that this is something we can do.”
Drumgoole said she hoped construction would progress quickly and the children could move in by summer 2025.
She said the biggest challenge is getting site plan approval from the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
Drumgoole said they had reached about a third of their fundraising goal of around $3 million.
However, organizers are confident they can easily reach this goal given the significant fundraising support they have already received from the community.
“We’re so grateful that the community has bought into this. Everywhere we go and talk about it, everyone gets it. People understand that this is a great program and everyone is willing to get involved and do what they can to get us across the finish line,” said Board Chairman Joe Gambill.
Drumgoole says they are still looking for volunteers for the upcoming project and for the services they already provide to the community, such as providing shelter, food and resources.
If you would like to contribute to the project, click here to volunteer or donate.
All rights reserved.
