Mineral Springs celebrates, fund drive continues

$120,000 would guarantee six months

  • This group of clients at Mineral Springs Center gathered during the 50th Anniversary Celebration last month. Shown enjoying the event are, from left, front, Christopher Finkle and Linda Strickland; and, back, Jay Jenkins, Scott Sanford, Ansley Price, Tommy Cornett, Amanda King, Izak Stone, Eric Morris, Michael Elliott, Josh Barker, Kevin Turner, Kari Castlen, Alec McClure, Robbie Conley, Tammy Booth, Rick Kruse, Joshua Hutzel.
    This group of clients at Mineral Springs Center gathered during the 50th Anniversary Celebration last month. Shown enjoying the event are, from left, front, Christopher Finkle and Linda Strickland; and, back, Jay Jenkins, Scott Sanford, Ansley Price, Tommy Cornett, Amanda King, Izak Stone, Eric Morris, Michael Elliott, Josh Barker, Kevin Turner, Kari Castlen, Alec McClure, Robbie Conley, Tammy Booth, Rick Kruse, Joshua Hutzel.
  • The staff at Mineral Springs Center gathered during the 50th Anniversary Celebration at the facility in Blue Ridge. Shown are, from left, Faith Fuller, Tara Ledford, Angie Green, Stacey Nicholson, Karen Kinchen, Cindy Moss, Robin Davenport, Carol Brown, David Messer, Diane Bond, Kelly Messer, and Tina Banner. Not pictured are Holly Waters and Penny Bradburn.
    The staff at Mineral Springs Center gathered during the 50th Anniversary Celebration at the facility in Blue Ridge. Shown are, from left, Faith Fuller, Tara Ledford, Angie Green, Stacey Nicholson, Karen Kinchen, Cindy Moss, Robin Davenport, Carol Brown, David Messer, Diane Bond, Kelly Messer, and Tina Banner. Not pictured are Holly Waters and Penny Bradburn.
  • Carmi Wood, shown here at the anniversary celebration, was one of the founders and the first board chairperson of Mineral Springs Center.
    Carmi Wood, shown here at the anniversary celebration, was one of the founders and the first board chairperson of Mineral Springs Center.

    Celebrating a 50th birthday cannot be complete without a look at the past, the present, and the future. That is the case at Mineral Springs Center, which just celebrated with an anniversary party March 24.

    The history is long and storied, beginning in 1972, continuing today with a rebuilding process after the hard hitting effects of COVID-19, and looking toward a bright future with a goal of raising $120,000 taking center stage.

    The vision for the center started in 1972 when Fannin County was approached about applying for a grant to have a center to serve individuals with developmental disabilities. County Commissioner A.L. Stepp brought together Charles Kiker, Bob Seay, Carmi Wood and Rev. Charles Brown to begin working on the project in January of that year.

    March 4, 1972, the Fannin County Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) was incorporated. Writing the grant application, finding a building, raising local match money, getting volunteers and hiring staff began.

    Barely a few days more than a year later, March 26, 1973, the Fannin County Special Care Center opened with 16 clients on the first day. Pre-school, school age, and adults were all served.

    The center was soon serving 32 clients and expanded to two buildings. But a larger building was soon needed.

    Kay Kendall, director, spearheaded an ARC grant application for a new building. The ARC raised local matching funds and the Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge donated property in the Mineral Springs area. The new building opened February 1, 1979.

    The name of the organization and the clients served have changed throughout the years.

    Mineral Springs Center serves 28 individuals today, employing 14 staff members.

    It provides community access to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with the focus on prioritizing independence, purpose and meaning as defined by each individual.

    The immediate future for the center is to successfully reach a fundraising goal of $120,000. The money is needed to make sure a crisis such as COVID-19 never again stops operations at the center.

    As of Sunday, April 2, $48,233 had been raised

    Donations can be made online at savemineralsprings.org, or by mail to P.O. Box 28, Blue Ridge, Georgia, 30513.

    “My heart is full of gratitude for the community we live in and how mcuh they support the clients at Mineral Springs Center,” Robin Davenport, the center’s director, said.

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    (Editor’s note: Information regarding the history of Mineral Springs came from History of Mineral Springs Center authored by Gayle Harper and edited and co-authored by Davenport).