The Berry College community came together in a big way for its first-ever Day of Giving on April 8, rallying around the theme “We All Row!”
Students from across Chattooga County came together for a day of service, raising nearly $2,000 to support the local animal shelter while also volunteering their time.
More than $40,000 had been raised as of Monday to help send Jude Baker and his family on a special trip following the young Chattooga County boy’s courageous battle with cancer.
The fundraiser was organized by Kevin Godfrey, owner of Godfrey’s Tree Service, after Leslie Tripp Watwood, owner of Burger Shack, approached him about bringing the community together for Jude.
Jude was diagnosed in February of 2024, at just 12 years old, with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. After months of difficult treatments, Jude eventually reached a major milestone by ringing the bell to mark the end of his treatment.
But even while going through his own battle, Jude was thinking about others.
According to organizers, Jude used his Make-A-Wish Georgia opportunity not for a trip or gift for himself, but instead to help people experiencing homelessness in the community. His wish helped provide backpacks, supplies, sleeping bags, and meals for more than 300 people.
Now that Jude is in remission, organizers say the community is stepping up to give back to him and his family by helping provide a trip where they can enjoy time together and make lasting memories away from hospitals, treatments, and stress.
Organizers say Jude’s compassion and selflessness have deeply touched the community, and donations continue to come in as supporters rally around the Baker family.
Chattooga Family Connection recently marked another holiday success by stuffing and delivering 150 Christmas stockings to local students, ensuring children across the county felt supported during the season. But organizers say the stockings represent just one part of the organization’s broader mission.
More than 700 runners, walkers, and volunteers gathered Thanksgiving morning for the second annual AdventHealth Rome Turkey Trot, turning a chilly holiday start into a celebration of community, movement, and gratitude. Participants followed a scenic riverside route before crossing the finish line inside AdventHealth Stadium, where they completed a victory lap around the bases to cap off the experience.