By JANET McGREGOR
Contributing Writer

Although Jim Friday's participation as a juror on a child abuse case and his subsequent curiosity are the known beginnings of the Fayette Youth Protection Home, Inc. Friday gives credit to a higher power. He says the roots of the Home can be traced directly back to a prayer he made in anger.

He defiantly asked God “what do you want of me?” and shortly thereafter found himself serving on a jury for the first time in his life which ultimately led to the establishment of the home.

There are very few in Fayette County who are not familiar with “The Friday Home.” While Jim Friday may have been the first to envision and pursue the concept of a “family-style home” for children in need, many Fayette County residents have had a hand in the development and continued success of the home.

In 1986 a small group began working to make a safe place for abused and neglected children in Fayette County. The first home, the Friday Home, opened in 1989 as a co-ed residential group home for school-age children.

Friday noted, “I initially set a goal of six months for opening the doors of the first home. I was only off by a few years.”

The Friday Home has ten beds and was filled within seven days. It has been at over 80% capacity since opening. A second home, the Asden Johnson Home was recently opened in the Brooks area. The ten beds were filled within a few days. Two beds are usually reserved in each home for short-term emergency care.

The majority of the children placed in the two homes come through the Department of Family and Children Services. While priority is given to children from Fayette County, children from other counties are also admitted.

The average stay for a child is one year. Programming and staff are administered by Georgia Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries.

Residents attend local public schools, participates in community activities and attends a local church. Funds to support the two homes come from numerous sources. The State of Georgia and the Fayette County Commission contribute to the home.

Additionally, money is received from individuals, civic groups, businesses, churches and others. Half of the proceeds from the Fayette Thrift Shop are given to the Home and a variety of fund-raisers are held throughout the year. Local Realtors support the Home through the annual Noel November Christmas tree fund-raiser. This year a portion of the proceeds raised from the upcoming Wings over Dixie air show will be donated to the home.

Volunteer opportunities for seniors abound— as members of the FYPH Board of Directors, to to assist with fundraising efforts, and to work at the Fayette Thrift Shop. Individuals, civic groups and churches provide special events and activities. For those interested in discovering how they can help, call 770-460-6652.

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