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Pathfinder
of the Month
"Do not go
where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path
and leave a trail."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Everday
Angels
For
the month of July, we are happy to assist a young woman who currently
is living week to week at a local hotel. She moved away from her family
with her fiancé several years ago in anticipation of starting a wonderful
life together. Her fiancé's new job lead to new friends who unfortunately
influenced him into a life of drugs and alcoholism. Throughout the past
12 months, she has dealt with the growing instability and changes these
substances do to a person and the person's relationships.
She
no longer knew the man she once loved and was forced to move and start
a new life on her own. She fearfully walked away from everything she once
shared with him and is starting a new life on her own. She recently has
found a new job and is trying to save for a deposit on a more permanent
residence. Until then, she will struggle living week to week at a local
lodge and is determined to make a better life for herself. She openly
shares the indirect effects of drug and alcohol abuse and how it has become
a common escape for young adults in today's society.
She
is not only determined to get on her feet but to help change the lives
of young teens through her tough testimony. The wisdom and bravery she
shares is inspiring. She is in a tough place right now, trying to make
ends meet, but she strongly will admit that it is a much better place
than sharing her life with someone dependent upon drugs. She is a brave,
wise young women and her strong faith is evident.
May
God live through her as she tells her story in hopes of changing the paths
of many young children today.
Everyday Angels is a non-profit organization
that provides short-term funding (currently up to a maximum of $425 per
month) to those in our community in need. If you know someone in need
or would like to contribute, please call (770) 517-8210 ext. 580.
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Service
dogs are special dogs which have been trained to perform very specific
tasks for a person with a disability. The training of the dogs takes years
to complete and often begins when the dog is just a puppy. There is a
tremendous amount of time and love put into every service dog, from selecting
the right dog to the hours of training and socialization the dog must
master. Georgia Canines of Independence (GCI) is a local non-profit organization
supplying service dogs free of charge, to deserving recipients. Ramona
Nichols is the founder and operator of GCI, and for her work and tireless
dedication to her dogs and the people she helps through GCI, Ramona has
been chosen as our Pathfinder for the Month for July.
Ramona
is a Georgia native and graduated from the University of Georgia with
a degree in psychology. Part of her course work required a study in animal
behavior, and it was this exposure that laid the seeds for her future
work. After graduation, she began working as a dog and obedience trainer
- that was 15 years ago. Ramona loved dogs and training them, but she
also wanted to help people. This desire led her to working with service
dogs six years ago, which eventually led to GCI in 2002.
Because
GCI is non-profit, starting up wasn't easy, and Ramona credits her husband
Tim with getting GCI off the ground. "Tim is the main reason we exist.
Without him working full-time and funding GCI, we couldn't have done it."
GCI is sustained through financial donations and fundraising. They recently
held the event "Putts for Paws" which raised $58,000, part of which will
help in the training of two new dogs, Golden Retriever brothers Rebel
and Ranger, plus two new additional puppies. Ramona also credits her legion
of 20 plus volunteers who help train and socialize the dogs. "It takes
many people to make GCI work," she said.
Ramona's
dogs, which are typically Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers, have
enhanced and touched so many lives around them. Her dogs are a part of
her family. In fact, she's with them 24/7 as they go home with her and
Tim each evening and on weekends. Lucy, her first service dog, has been
with them since 2002 and is probably the most well known of GCI's dogs.
Lucy participates in another one of GCI's programs, Animal Assisted Therapy.
Dogs involved in this program provide emotional, social, physical and
cognitive benefits to special needs children and adults, nursing homes,
rehabilitation centers and schools. It typically takes two years for a
dog to become a service animal, but while they are being trained, they
can participate in the Animal Assisted Therapy.
Two
of Ramona's dogs, Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty, both Golden Retrievers,
"graduated" to their owners and are now being utilized as service dogs.
"The recipients go through training as well, and the dogs really become
extensions of the people they are helping," noted Ramona. Ramona takes
a lot of time and effort when matching a dog to a potential recipient.
"I give the potential recipient a personality test, and I do the same
for the dog. It's important to match skill and need, personality and socializing
preferences. We wouldn't want to place a high energy dog with a laid back
recipient and vice versa. A lot goes into the matching of a service dog
and their owner," she continued. Ramona's dedication doesn't stop after
the dog is placed. She provides a tremendous amount of follow up after
the dog is placed to ensure it's a smooth transition.
Ramona's
heart is truly with GCI. "GCI is a way for Tim and I to use what we love
to make a difference for children and adults. The dogs make a positive
impact on the community. I feel very lucky to be doing something I love."
Thank
you, Ramona, for making a difference in our community!
For
more information on GCI, please call (678) 735-3647 or visit www.GCIDOGS.com.
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