For McDonough Housing Authority Executive Director Shanicki Burton, working to strengthen families is an important part of what she does.
For that reason, she said, the Housing Authority hosted its inaugural Unity Walk June 14.
“During the months of May and June, HUD encourages housing authorities to do a community event to promote strong families within public housing in the community,” she said. “This was our very first time doing it, and it was a great success. We look forward to doing it again next year.”
The walk is part of a larger endeavor spearheaded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Burton said the walk, formerly known as a Father’s Day event, was expanded a few years ago to include women and children. Its purpose, she said, is to empower families in the McDonough area.
About 25 people participated in the walk, including McDonough City Councilman Rufus Stewart, and Housing Authority Commissioners Gina Riffey and Alisha Parker, said Burton.
Members of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in McDonough also took part in the walk. Burton said the church donated three Free Little Libraries to go into each of three developments at the Housing Authority.
The day’s activities included a ribbon-cutting for the libraries, she said.
“We have a variety of children’s books and adult books,” said Burton. “I was so excited about it. It’s been a great turnout, and we’ve had to refill the libraries with more books. I’m very appreciative of them wanting to donate books for the Housing Authority.”
Julie O’Neill, outreach chair for St. Joseph’s Episcopal said the church had been looking for a way to serve the needs of people in the McDonough community. She said the office of McDonough Mayor Billy Copeland subsequently referred the church to the Housing Authority for the library endeavor.
“For the residents, our hope is that it would bring opportunities to the children and the residents to continue learning throughout the summer when they’re not in school,” said O’Neill. “Not only did our men’s group build the libraries, but the entire church participated through donations. It just gives people in every age group an opportunity to invest in the community.”
