(Story updated Feb. 12 to provide additional information on T-shirts.)
A new piece of art honors one man’s legacy as well as helps raise money for an organization he championed,
The Augusta/CSRA Chapter of Habitat for Humanity joins other chapters across the country with a memorial door campaign in honor of the late President Jimmy Carter who worked on nearly 4,500 homes in 14 countries during his three decades of volunteer service to the organization.
Carter died at the age of 100 on Dec. 29, 2024.
Painted by Leonard “Porkchop” Zimmerman, the door features his signature robot, wearing a bandana around his neck and baseball cap, while standing on a ladder holding a paint can in a look reflecting Carter at work.
A second door will be painted in the same blue as the background, and people can sign the second door, according to Bernadette Kelliher, chief executive officer for the local chapter. Images of the artwork are on T-shirts and are available at the ReStore, 3112 Washington Rd., for donations of $25 or more.
“It’s unique. Other people are doing doors, but they are literally framing a door and letting people sign them. As far as I know, we are the only affiliate making it bigger,” said Kelliher.
Both doors will be on display at the Community Engagement Center at the Habitat ReStore.
Kelliher, who marked her second anniversary as the Augusta affiliate’s head Feb. 1, anticipates a door dedication in the next few weeks. She reached out to the Carter Center about the Augusta door.
T-shirt information should hit the website soon.
Since taking over as the organization’s head, Kelliher has worked to increase the organization’s visibility as well as build more houses for those who’ve qualified for assistance.
Read more: Habitat builds for the future
When she started the group was building about one a year. She anticipates building six in 2025 with two new builds starting in February.
The organization has ramped up its fundraising efforts – launching a new event called Build the Band in June 2024. It brought together local musicians and teamed them with people they’d never performed with before.
It was a success, she said, and returns June 21. The organization also has received several large donations from corporations as it works to build more homes in the Augusta area.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
