EREA meets at Emanuel County Institute

The Emanuel Retired Educators Association (EREA) held its sixth of seven meetings for the 2024-25 academic year on Wednesday, April 16, at noon, in the media center of Emanuel County Institute (ECI). President Verdell Brinson called the meeting to order and thanked everyone present for attending. She then introduced Brooke Frye, Principal of ECI. Mrs. Frye welcomed the retirees, Assistant Principals Corian Robertson and Adam Robertson; said the new addition has been completed; stated a new athletic facility is currently being built; and shared that ECI students are making academic gains. Following the devotion, EREA attendees enjoyed the delicious meal that was prepared by the school food services staff and several desserts from All the Fixin’s. After lunch, the program chair introduced the guest speaker, Kami Grant, who has been the Social Services Coordinator for Herrington Homestead in Nunez since 2013. Herrington Homestead is one of five Georgia Sheriffs’ Homes. Mrs. Grant presented a most informative and inspiring program about the origin, purpose, and “story” of Herrington Homestead: it started in 1994 when siblings Nina Herrington, Frank Herrington, and Ruby Herrington Drew gave their 700-acre farmland to be developed into a home for abused, neglected, and abandoned children from Georgia; she emphasized that the children are not “in trouble with the law.” They are foster children supported by the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association. Today, that farmland is a beautiful campus with three cottages. Presently, nine children reside in two of the cottages while the third cottage is being worked on. (When all three cottages are full, eighteen children can be served.) The males and their houseparents live in one cottage; the females and their houseparents live in the second cottage. Each child has his or her own bedroom. The children attend the public schools in Swainsboro and are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities. Herrington Homestead has tutors to work with the children after school. Tutors (especially math tutors) for the high school students are presently needed. The students are strongly urged to further their education after they graduate from high school. If they go to a public college in Georgia, their expenses will be paid, and if they have a successful first year of college, they will be given a car. Mrs. Grant said three students from Herrington Homestead are currently attending college. Without giving the children’s names, Mrs. Grant shared the successes of four siblings who have been served by Herrington Homestead; one of the children is still living there. She also stated that Herrington Homestead has served two hundred children since she has worked there (2013). The staff plans several on-campus and off-campus activities (such as trips to go bowling) throughout the year, including a big Christmas party. The children can attend church with their houseparents. Herrington Homestead accepts and appreciates donated items such as paper goods, toiletries, underwear, bras, and socks. Mrs. Grant said if any individual or group desires to help, please call her (478-307-0590) to get an updated list of items needed, including sizes. She said that sometimes children arrive there with only the clothes they are wearing.

After the presentation, the meeting continued with the minutes of the last meeting, the treasurer’s report, and the committee reports. Then President Brinson briefly shared information about the 2025 Georgia Retired Educators Association (GREA) State Convention, which will be held at the Marriott in Augusta on May 6-8. As the EREA president, she will be attending the annual convention.

Elizabeth Kraus, ECI counselor, won the drawing for a basket of items that EREA, with financial assistance from GREA, is giving away at each EREA meeting during this school year to show appreciation for all employees of the Emanuel County School System.

The EREA members who were present then elected the officers for the 2025-26 academic year. The following will be installed at the meeting on Wednesday, May 21, at the Sudie Fulford Center: President: Toney Golden, President-elect: Teresa Bright; Secretary: Huddie Culbreth, Treasurer: Jean Schwabe, and Verdell Brinson will be the Immediate Past President.

After the nice door prizes were awarded, the meeting was adjourned.