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Family Connection Focus: Department of Juvenile Justice's Effingham County Community Services Office
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Mark Lastinger
Updated: Feb 2, 2018, 10:55 AM
Published: Feb 2, 2018, 12:00 PM

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is the first story in a weekly series about organizations in Effingham County Family Connection, part of a statewide initiative that cultivates public and private collaboration at the local level to boost at-risk children and families Georgia Family Connection is represented in each of the state’s 159 counties, making it the largest network of its kind in the nation.

Collaborative organizations are committed to improving conditions for at-risk children, families and communities. Effingham County Family Connection boasts more than 20 partners.

SPRINGFIELD -- The Georgia Department of Justice's Effingham County Community Services Office is a crucial part of the Effingham County Family Connection safety net. 

The department's mission statement is: To protect and serve the citizens of Georgia by holding young offenders accountable for their actions through the delivery of services  and sanctions in appropriate settings and by supporting youth in their communities to become productive and law-abiding citizens.

The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) operates short- and long-term facilities for children awaiting trial or who have been committed to custody by juvenile courts. Rehabilitation programs are provided at these locations to help the young offenders make positive changes in their lives.

Effingham County Community Services Office Director Anita Powell said the Family Connection collaborative furnishes a wealth of ideas and inititatives to help the DJJ achieve its goals. She has been associated with Family Connection for the duration of her 19-year career in juvenile justice, having served on its board.

"The true connection for us is that Family Connection does a lot of focusing on drugs and a lot of the things that we deal with through the department," Powell said. "Drug use and suicide are the types of issues we encounter with our clients, which makes the connections I make through Family Connection good for us. I get to meet a lot of collaborative partners that I probably wouldn't meet otherwise."

Effingham County Family Connection, led by Executive Director Elaine Spencer, meets bi-monthly at the Effingham County Recreation and Parks Department facility on Hwy 119 in Springfield. The next meeting is set for March 8 at 9:30 a.m. The pubic is welcome.

"Almost every meeting that I attend, I hear about something different that has come to the area -- whether it's counseling services or just someone who can let a child do community service. It's been a good help to us and I think we've been helpful to Family Connection, too."

Powell said the need for her department's services have grown with Effingham County's burgeoning population. Since 2011, about 300 Effingham County children have been under DJJ supervision annually.

"We're seeing a lot more kids," she said. "In my time, I'm seeing children of people that I dealt with 19 years ago. It's definitely a 24-hour-a-day job."

For more information about the Community Services Office, call Powell at 754-6223. Spencer can be reached at 912-429-5468 or ecfamilyconnection@gmail.com
Volunteers hold 'Demo Party' to help Rincon Woman Rebuild Storm-Damaged Home
Miss Peggy
Matt Evans, owner of Centaur Home Renovations, consults with volunteer Janel Kearney while directing the demolition process. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)
Mya Taylor
Updated: Aug 28, 2025, 3:11 PM
Published: Aug 28, 2025, 2:43 PM

RINCON, Ga. — Volunteers attended a “demo party” over the weekend to help demolish the interior of 82-year-old Miss Peggy’s home, which was left severely damaged by a storm years ago.

A gloomy forecast and threat of rain did not deter the group from working. When the seven volunteers arrived, they were greeted by Centaur Home Renovations owner Matt Evans, who is leading the renovations. Masks, trash bags and tools were handed out as music played from a large speaker and fans helped keep volunteers cool in the summer heat. Orange arrows painted on the walls directed workers to the areas slated for demolition.

Miss Peggy
Leigh Carter strips wallpaper as part of the interior demolition of Miss Peggy’s home during a community ‘demo party’ in Rincon. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)

Leigh Carter, the first to arrive, was one of several who stripped walls and tore out drywall. Carter’s efforts go beyond renovations — she has also driven Miss Peggy to doctor’s appointments and helped her get rehoused last week at Family Promise of Effingham after a brief displacement.

“We want to get Miss Peggy back home in a safe place to live,” Carter said.

Volunteers spread out through the home, removing damaged drywall and hauling debris to a dumpster in the driveway.

“I decided to join because I thought helping somebody would be a good thing to do,” volunteer Sydney Kearney said. “I just thought it would be nice to volunteer.”

Miss Peggy
Grayson Heaton uses a crowbar to help remove damaged walls during the volunteer demolition day. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)

Repairs underway
Michael’s Roofing of Meldrim completed the first major repair by rebuilding and installing a new roof. The previous roof had been damaged by a fallen tree, which led to water leaks, mildew and mold spreading through the home.

Now Evans and Centaur Home Renovations are leading the next phase of work. Evans joined volunteers in the demolition and said community support has been growing since news of Miss Peggy’s situation was first reported in the Effingham Herald. 

“Since the article was first published, we’ve gotten quite a few reach-outs from people willing to donate their time,” Evans said. “We’ve also had four different dumpster companies donate dumpsters for the cause as well.”

Community organizations are also pitching in. Family Promise and the Manna House Food Pantry and Thrift Store have pledged to provide furniture and other materials once renovations are complete.

The most recent setback came when the septic tank lids collapsed, causing the system to stop working. Evans said crews are now cleaning the tank and clearing the lines.

Miss Peggy
Benny Carter tosses an old mattress into a dumpster as part of cleanup efforts at Miss Peggy’s storm-damaged home. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)

What’s still needed
“After the demo is completed, we can start looking for more materials we’ll need like lumber, drywall, paint, flooring and more to get the house back together,” Evans said.

Additional materials still needed include:

  • 25 2x4x8 studs

  • Four sheets of OSB sheathing

  • Twenty 12-foot deck boards (5/4)

  • Twelve 12-foot sheets of sheetrock

  • 36-inch vanity

  • Two toilets

  • Four ceiling fans

  • Two bathroom fans

  • 60-inch vanity

  • 60-inch fiberglass tub and surround

  • 60-inch fiberglass shower and surround

  • 1,600 square feet of LVP flooring

  • 36-inch exterior door

  • Rolls of drywall tape

  • Buckets of drywall mud

  • Bags of 20-minute drywall joint compound

  • 100 linear feet of baseboard and quarter round

  • 10 gallons of Kilz or Cover Stain

  • 10–12 gallons of white paint

There is no estimated timeline for completion, as more funds and supplies are needed. The GoFundMe campaign for Miss Peggy’s home renovations has raised more than $1,400.

Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/help-ms-peggy-return-to-a-safe-home.

Miss Peggy
The interior of Miss Peggy’s home shows ceiling stripped and debris cleared in preparation for renovations. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)