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FFRC moves to larger facility December 2011

by Staff Writer: Eliot Duke The Thomasville Times

Sandra Clodfelter stocks shelves at Fairgrove Family Resource Center's new building at 159 Myrtle Drive.

Employees at Fairgrove Family Resource Center don't have to worry about bumping into each other in the hallway or rubbing elbows while packing boxes of food any more.

After spending the past 16 years operating out of a doublewide trailer at the end of gravel driveway, FFRC has moved into a larger facility much more suitable to help the nonprofit assist the ever-growing number of people who need help. Thanks to the contributions of a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, FFRC recently opened its doors at 159 Myrtle Drive where 6,500 square feet of space is making life a lot easier on both employees and clients.

"We're just thrilled," said FFRC executive director Terri Nelson. "This place was ready to move in and we're so happy to be here. It's like moving into a mansion and it seems almost too good to be true. It's a change we've wanted for so long. I had given up. This just dropped in our laps out of the blue."

Nelson wanted to move from the 1,400-square-foot doublewide on Cedar Lodge Drive because the number of people seeking assistance had grown over the past few years. With grant money spread thin and donations still down, chances of moving any time soon seemed remote at best. Nelson said a person with knowledge of the organization approached her and asked if she was looking for additional space. Less than a month later, volunteers spent Monday packing food boxes in a spacious warehouse with plenty of room for much-needed donations.

"It was almost like this place was designed for what we do," Nelson said. "It all happened very quickly. This place is amazing."

FFRC serves more than 900 clients a month and averages a new person coming through its doors every day. Clients seem to like the facility and have had no problem making the transition to the new location. The building has four offices, a conference room and plenty of floor space for food and other donations. The offices also allow for more privacy when new clients seek help.

"It helps us do things more efficiently," said Nelson. "Before, we would literally move food from one place to another place and would end up handling the same food three times. Here, when we have deliveries, they pull up to the door, we unload it and start packing it. We've cut time because there's not as much movement. The flow is beautiful."

Like Nelson, Julie Stevens, FFRC program services facilitator, is already at home in her new office.

"It's awesome," Stevens said. "The access to our food is a lot easier. We have much more room now to hold more food. We're available to get many more donations that we need desperately. There's a lot of excitement and several clients already have said it was a blessing to see us get a blessing."

The move has yet to impact donations, however, as Nelson said she is still struggling to keep up with the number of people seeking assistance.

For more information on FFRC, call 472-7217.

Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.

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