Charles and Deborah Jenkins have dedicated their lives to serving the community and giving back to others.
An Army veteran who served in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart and a retired educator, the couple purchased 22 acres of land in Lincoln County in 2017 to create the Jenkins Family Nature Preserve.
“The nature preserve will welcome people from all walks of life and show them the benefits of nature, how to survive in it, how to appreciate nature, how to gain nutrition from it, and create a natural habitat for surrounding wildlife in the area,” according to the website.
An avid gardener, Deborah Jenkins wanted fruit trees and vegetables to grow so that people who needed food could come and take from the bounty of the land.
But Hurricane Helene had other plans for the site and left her mark.
“The hurricane destroyed a lot of that land,” said Priscilla Jenkins, who is taking on her parents’ dream.
People can visit the nature preserve Aug. 15 for a special back-to-school program.
Jenkins’ parents have had some health challenges, so she’s taking their vision to the next level.
“I’m turning my father’s love of philanthropy, and my mom’s love of gardening and community service into a non-profit organization. My dad’s been a philanthropist for years. My mom was an educator for 25 years and has always loved gardening.
About five acres of the preserve will have fruit trees and vegetable gardens, where people can glean what they need, but the other acreage will include a building for classes and workshops.
Currently there are some classes, but they are being given in the Atlanta area.
Clean-up of the site has been the thrust of the first phase with planting being the second. And the learning opportunities won’t be limited to plants.
“There’s a lot of different wildlife and different ecosystems,” she said.
Plus, there are interesting geological formations on the site.
The site will also serve as an event space.
A few events have been held there including an Earth Day event earlier this year.
This is the first time she’s done something for back-to-school.
Children will receive backpacks filled with school supplies; there will be tents with educational resources such as books and teaching tools for parents to help their children.
Children will receive free haircuts and hairstyles.
Plus, there will be food, games and musical entertainment.
She said she hopes it will be an annual event and invites the community out to get a glimpse of the site and learn more about the preserve.
The Jenkins Family Nature Preserve is located on CE Norman Road. There’s not a street number yet because there’s not a building, but Jenkins said there would be signs to lead people from the highway.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named best local writer by readers of Augusta Magazine in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here
