A local veteran facing an uncertain future is getting help from an army of strangers. His home and property are in dire need of cleanup and repairs. Without them, he could face possible fines and other penalties for violating the city’s nuisance ordinance. But due to his poor health and cleanup costs, he’s unable to make the necessary changes alone.
Tallulah Falls Police Chief Tonya Elrod is one of the veteran’s biggest allies. Although she’s the one who would be tasked with writing him citations, she’s working hard to avoid that. She wants to help him improve his quality of life and keep his home.
“It’s kind of dreary for him,” Chief Elrod says, describing the man’s living conditions. “He lives alone, just him and his dog, and never has any visitors.”
Moved by the veteran’s circumstances and grateful for his military service, Elrod began working with a friend and local contractor who was eager to help. James Welborn looked over the property. He estimates contracting for cleanup could cost $30,000 to $40,000 and take weeks to complete.
“I have no problem doing this job for free,” Welborn tells Now Habersham, “but due to the labor shortage, I just don’t have the manpower to pull it off by myself.” Still, that didn’t stop him. Together, Welborn and Elrod came up with a plan. When she told the man they wanted to help him, “He looked at his dog and said ‘Well girl, I think there’s someone that cares about us,’ and he smiled real big,” Elrod recalls.
With the reluctant veteran’s blessing, they scheduled a cleanup day on Tuesday, July 20, at his Tallulah Falls property. Appealing directly to the community for help, they’re recruiting volunteers and donations online.
Cornelia resident Bob Williams was among the first to volunteer. He says he did it “simply because I care.” Now, Williams is also helping to host the event.
“He lives alone, just him and his dog, and never has any visitors.”
Organizers are looking for enough volunteers to fill five two-hour shifts from 7:30 a.m. through 6 p.m. this coming Tuesday. They’re also looking for dumpster and trash services and landscape and tree removal services willing to donate their time and equipment to help.
“We have up to three trees that will need to be trimmed or removed,” says Welborn.
Volunteers will cut shrubs and clear trash and debris from the yard. In addition to the cleanup, volunteers are needed to make signs, handle check-in, man a first aid station and food tent, and remove wildlife. (Welborn is “pretty sure” that a few snakes and large rats will need to be removed from the overgrown lot.)
“If we can get a few first responders to work the first aid area, that would be appreciated,” he adds.
To participate in the actual cleanup, volunteers must be 16 or older, but younger kids can help with the other jobs. Those unable to provide labor can help by donating items.
“What we need the most of right now is lumber materials and new roofing materials,” says Welborn. The group also needs trash bags, mixed gas for equipment, gloves, masks, bottled water, two 8×8 tents, and vehicles with trailers to help haul away the debris.
A monumental task
Organizing this type of effort is a monumental task under any circumstances. In this instance, it’s made all the more challenging because of the urgency. By ordinance, the veteran has only a limited time to bring his property up to code.
Welborn posted the event to social media on July 17. Since then, they’ve received a good response from people wanting to pay it forward. Still, they need more volunteers.
“What he’s done for our country in the past… I just feel like we need to help him now.”
“I appreciate the sacrifices our veterans have made on all our behalves. They fought for us and our freedoms to live and celebrate the American dream, and now…..it’s time to fight for them and allow them to live out and celebrate their own American dreams,” says Williams.
“He has my heart,” adds Chief Elrod. “He’s a really special guy. What he’s done for our country in the past… I just feel like we need to help him now.”
Out of respect for the veteran, organizers have chosen not to share his name or address publicly. Volunteers and donors who sign up will be directed where to go.
After Tuesday’s cleanup, more work will need to be done. The home’s pipes are busted, and the power is out, so organizers are asking electrical and plumbing crews to volunteer, too.
If you can volunteer or would like to contribute, visit the Tallulah falls property clean-up event page on Facebook. You may also sign up by contacting James Welborn at 706-949-8782 or [email protected].
