In some capacity since 1999, Robin Davenport has served the Mineral Springs Center (MSC) and its people, and now, Davenport has taken the reigns as director of the center.
“The Mineral Springs Center is a huge piece of the puzzle that makes my life complete and fills my purpose on Earth,” Davenport said.
Once her late son was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration disorder, or early dementia, in 2018, following a year of complications, Davenport learned that her many years of dedication to the center had prepared her to take care of her son.
“Everything I needed, I had learned here,” she said referencing the types of care she had to provide her son while in a facility and once he came home on hospice. “It was so natural even though the loss was horrendous.”
As a result, she feels being with the center is truly “God’s will for my life,” she said, and after being contacted about coming back in the director’s position following her son’s death this past February, all she could say was yes.
“This is going to be a year of rebuilding, getting back to where we used to be, providing quality services, and getting back out in the community,” Davenport said of her plans for MSC.
With 22 individuals having returned for services at the center following COVID-19 shutdowns, Davenport said she anticipates nine more individuals to return soon.
She said she looks forward to getting her clients back volunteering with the Fannin County Family Connection food bank and getting them into nature.
Davenport thanked the community’s support through a tough time resulting from the pandemic, and noted that $136,330 has been donated.
This money “enables us to be able to continue moving forward,” she said. “It’s a good cushion to move forward.”
Specifically, the money will allow MSC to get their hours back to normal volumes as well as expand services.
Davenport praised MSC Board of Directors for their dedication to keeping the doors open through the pandemic and beyond as well as the devotion of the staff.
“I can’t say enough good things about them,” she said.
The center currently provides Community Access Group, Community Access Individual, Community Living, Specialized Medical Supplies and Specialized Medical Equipment services.
“It’s all about the community and building purpose and meaning in lives,” Davenport said.
She also highlighted their CNA service, which helps a client’s quality of life by them not having to be sent to a nursing home for care.
MSC could still use the public’s help in supporting their mission of providing “needed and wanted services to people with disabilities” in order for those individuals to live “to the fullest extent possible.”
Checks can be made out to the Mineral Springs Center and sent to P.O. Box 28, Blue Ridge, GA 30513.
Their number is 706-632-2094, and additional information on the center itself can be found on their website at www.mineralspringscenter.org.