Men of Lake Oconee becomes Neighbors Helping Neighbors

  • The name change to Neighbors Helping Neighbors was announced Tuesday night at a membership meeting held at Oconee Brewing Company. Some recipients spoke to the group about how the organization has helped improve their lives. MARK ENGEL/Staff
    The name change to Neighbors Helping Neighbors was announced Tuesday night at a membership meeting held at Oconee Brewing Company. Some recipients spoke to the group about how the organization has helped improve their lives. MARK ENGEL/Staff
  • One of the group’s projects is to build and donate new beds, including pillows and sheets, to families whose children sleep on the floor or must share beds with other siblings. MARK ENGEL/Staff
    One of the group’s projects is to build and donate new beds, including pillows and sheets, to families whose children sleep on the floor or must share beds with other siblings. MARK ENGEL/Staff

    The non-profit organization Men of Lake Oconee has announced it is changing its name after less than two years. President Bob Massey told members at a meeting Tuesday night the group quickly discovered that the success of the program includes the assistance and support of women.

    “We’ve had a lot of women say, ‘why can’t I get involved?’ And they’re right,” he said. “The world is much better with all of us working together and sharing our combined skills to help the people in the community who really need it.”

    The organization will now be known as Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

    Since it began in January 2021, it has focused on Greene and Putnam county families in poverty. They estimate there are 7,500 people who live under the poverty level in the two counties. The organization prides itself in a rigorous vetting of possible recipients to make sure they are truly unable to help themselves.

    Its focus began with critical home repairs or improvement needs. Members at the Tuesday meeting were told that in 19 months, 71 projects have been completed, ranging from building a wheelchair ramp to repairing plumbing and water lines in a home.

    Another program is Beds for Kidz, which identifies families where children are sleeping on floors or multiple children must share one bed. So far, they say, 160 children in Lake Country are now sleeping in new beds constructed by volunteers.

    Recently, the organization has started accepting cars as donations or purchased them at reduced prices. If necessary, they are repaired before being provided to needy families.

    Some of the recipients spoke to the group at Tuesday night’s meeting at Oconee Brewing Company to express their appreciation for how the help they received has impacted their lives.

    Funding for all projects comes from member dues, contributions, community organizations and the recipients themselves. All of the money goes directly to projects