Dianne Fuller, left, and others tour the revitalized Allendale community.

SHREVEPORT, La. – While volunteers hammered away at the Millard Fuller Legacy Build in Minden 30 miles away, a group gathered Wednesday in the Allendale community to view how The Fuller Center for Housing with its Northwest Louisiana covenant partner has transformed a once drug-fueled, crime-ridden community into a flourishing oasis for families.

The most recent of the 43 Fuller Center houses built in Allendale.

In 2005, Allendale became a springboard for The Fuller Center’s ever-growing mission to help other communities enjoy similar transformations and help lift more families out of poverty housing. The Fuller Center did not start out as an organization intent on transforming entire communities. What happened in Allendale shaped the entire mission of The Fuller Center.

“The Fuller Center went to Shreveport as a result of Hurricane Katrina to help with some of the refugees who’d fled the storm,” Fuller Center for Housing President David Snell said. “What came out of Allendale was one of the greatest examples of community renewal.”

The trip to Shreveport had a second purpose. FCH of Northwest Louisiana and homeowners in the neighborhood have planted a live oak tree in honor of Glen Barton, the former vice president of U.S. field operations who died in August.

THE TRANSFORMATION

Few are more passionate in talking about the transformation than Lee Jeter, an ex-Marine who leads the Fuller Center of Northwest Louisiana. He’s seen the change in the hearts of the community, in the lives of families and in statistics.

New Allendale Homes

“We want you to look around at the change in this community,” Jeter told the crowd assembled at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament church on the edge of the neighborhood. “The crime rate has dropped 80 percent since The Fuller Center began building homes in the Allendale community. People in this community who didn’t trust anybody are now beginning to trust us.”

The group walked the streets of dozens of homes. Lee pointed out where a liquor store once stood and was the hub of undesirable community activity, as well as “The Hill,” where drug use and crime was rampant. “The Hill” is no more, only a beautiful slope of homes with the sights and sounds of children playing.

“We’ve got do what Jesus said, to go there and spread the gospel, and change this world one community and one house at a time,”. That is our mission. That is our calling. That’s why we’re here. That’s what we’re supposed to do.”

GLEN BARTON

Tree planted for Glen Barton

When Fuller Center co-founder Millard Fuller was encouraged to step in and see if he could help lift up the impoverished Allendale community, he said yes. And he immediately turned to Glen Barton to become his “boots on the ground” in Shreveport. Barton, who had worked with Fuller at Habitat for Humanity, accepted the challenge.

And Allendale was forever changed.

“Glen Barton went to Shreveport on a short-term basis to help get the project started, but he wound up staying almost two years there,” Snell said. “And in doing so, he became a friend to countless people there. He put folks into houses, and they are truly grateful.”

A testament to his service to the community now grows in the heart of the neighborhood, a live oak tree planted in his memory. At a service around the tree Wednesday, letters and poems were read, songs were sung, and thankful homeowners wiped away tears and hugged Glen’s widow, Brenda Barton.

“It was a really positive experience to go back and see all the things that had changed and the growth,” Brenda said of the visit. “Seeing the homeowners that we’d worked with was really heartwarming. It was really good to see how everything’s continuing to grow.

“Glen would definitely be very proud of the way it’s continuing,” she added. “Not only he and Millard, but there were so many who came in and gave so much. And many are here at the Legacy Build. It took a lot of people to do it.”

Brenda Barton gets a hug from a homeowner as Lee Jeter looks on.

Of course, Brenda wasn’t the only one wiping away a few tears when the tour arrived at the live oak tree planted in his honor. Felicia Sewell was one of those. And her young daughters Makaila and Miracle were especially fond of Glen Barton.

“He always was working,” Sewell said. “He had the tenacity to make things happen. He did whatever it took for the homeowners here to get into our homes. And I will forever remember his smile, and he and Brenda coming in on Saturdays and Sundays working late into the evening. They were a blessing to my family. If it wasn’t for Glen Barton, I wouldn’t be here today.”

The transformation of this house to a home was completed with the help of many volunteer partners and individuals. This group, just as those of the past, included many of our faith that participated at various times and with various means.

But most notably at this site was on Saturday April 30th in support of the Fuller Center of NWLA’s “Catholic Work (Service) Day”. The Fuller Center counts on days such as this one to bring forth the volunteer and donor support that ultimately makes each of their construction projects possible.

September 3rd was special in so many ways for Mr. and Mrs. Willie Rochelle and their family. They realized their investment of 700 hours of “sweat equity” in the construction and care of this house held a value that was not measured in just dollars and cents. It was even more special for Mrs. Rochelle in that this day was also her birthday.

The entrance ribbon was cut after the traditional Fuller Center welcome gifts of a blanket, Holy Bible, and finally the keys were presented. The blanket represents the warmth and comfort and shelter that a home provides for a family. The Holy Bible represents a home built with the hands and feet of Jesus and reminds us that his presence must continue with God’s word filling our hearts and minds and spirit with his promise. And lastly, the presentation of the keys to the house marks the transformation of a structure to the beginning of a new family home.

Listed among the Home Sponsors is HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC PARISH – BARKSDALE AFB CHAPEL. There were representatives from this parish along with the parishes of Blessed Sacrament and Holy Trinity present for this dedication. They remembered and represented all of those of our Catholic Faith that supported this effort that could not be present on this particular day.

This truly was a blessed day of celebration for all involved in this project and the success stories of the past. Please consider this and any future projects presented by The Fuller Center for the unique opportunity they truly represent for us all to be charitable with our time and support.

Mrs. Cora Rochelle will be receiving a special birthday gift on Saturday, September 3, 2011.

The Fuller Center for Housing of Northwest Louisiana, Inc. will be dedicating their 43rd home on Saturday, the day of Mrs. Rochelle birthday. Volunteers will complete outside landscaping and beautification on Saturday beginning at 8:00AM leading up to the noon dedication.

Join the Fuller Center as we dedicate our 43rd home in the Allendale neighborhood!

Please, join the Fuller Center this Saturday as we dedicate our 43rd home in the Allendale neighborhood! This home is for the family of Mr. & Mrs. Willie Rochelle.

THE ROCHELLE FAMILY HAS SERVED NEARLY 700 SWEAT EQUITY HOURS – (TWICE THE REQUIREMENT)

During construction, they cleaned up debris from the house and yard, watered and mowed the grass and even provided several meals for volunteer workers.

Home sponsored by:

• FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
• FIRST BAPTIST SHREVEPORT
• J.P. MORGAN CHASE BANK
• ST MARK’S CATHEDRAL
• WELLS FARGO HOUSING FOUNDATION
• HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC PARISH –BARKSDALE AFB CHAPEL

Hundreds of volunteers help make this 43rd dedication possible, you are invited to come and share in the glorious celebration with the Rochelle Family.

“For a while I lived with my parents in their apartment, it was small and very crowded. I moved to a local apartment complex downtown, because it was the only place that I could afford, it was within walking distance to my job and alone the bus route for my son.”

We lived in a one-room efficiency and the living conditions there were very bad.

I know that receiving a Fuller Center home will show my son that there is hope and people willing to help you if you pray and have faith.

Help Delisa and the Fuller Center of NWLA by donating your time or giving a cash donation.

God sent her assistance in December 2009 in the form of the Fuller Center for Housing of Northwest Louisiana, The Shreveport Police Department and other community volunteers to help make the house livable. However, the house was in great need and is still in need of many repairs. The ceiling is deteriorating, the foundation is shifting, and the electrical wiring is outdated.

During the December blessing, Ms. Braziel was informed of the opportunities provided by the Fuller Center for Housing of NWLA and that to continue to put money in her home would be a waste of valuable resources, but if she was willing, the center would work with her to get her qualified for a new home. Blessed be to our Lord and Savior, Ms Braziel and her daughter, the oldest of the seven kids are employed and has qualified for a new Fuller Center home.

Ms Braziel said that being blessed in qualifying for Fuller Center home gives her new meaning to the word “independent”. “I never dreamed that I would own a used home, let alone a new home.” “This miracle that has been bestowed upon me and my family is emotionally overwhelming. When I think about the Providence House, shelters and other individuals living on the street.

I also think about the fact that God never saw fit to let none of these things be. For my Family. GRATEFUL IS WHAT I AM.

Help Yolanda and the Fuller Center of NWLA by donating your time or giving a cash donation.

In December NBC 6 News introduced you to Yolanda Braziel who is a single mother of seven. Her home was in ruins until several community members and businesses stepped up and made major repairs. Now Braziel’s getting something she never thought possible.

“I never thought I’d be able to own a used house and God has blessed me now that I will be a recipient of one of the new homes and it is overwhelming,” said Braziel. “I tell you I feel like I’m asleep. It feels like a dream.”

Braziel recently qualified for a Fuller Center for Housing house. The building process begins March 15th. She’s scheduled to move in eight weeks later.

The Fuller Center for Housing needs $80,000 to build Braziel’s house. If you would like to donate or volunteer log onto fullercenternwla.org.