By Michael Motes

A $10,000 grant from the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Campaign for Human Development over seven years ago was the first major step in a series of events that will culminate in a multi-purpose assistance center to be built in North Fulton County at a cost of $915,000.

The new building, to be known as the North Fulton Human Services Center, had its beginning seven years ago when the North Fulton Child Development Center was opened as a year round day care center for children and to supervise their early education. These disadvantaged children were -- and are -- six-month-old babies to six-year-olds getting ready for the first grade in public schools.

The tragedy that brought a group of concerned citizens together was the starvation death of a two-year-old child in North Fulton County, not far from Roswell.

Outraged that such monstrous deprivation could exist, a group of citizens organized the North Fulton Child Development Center. The city of Roswell leased an abandoned Negro school for a token $1 per year. City funds went to pay utilities and routine maintenance at the rented facility and the center was opened to the public.

Volunteers gave their time and materials to renovate what had been the Grove Way Community Center. For seven years it has provided for the care, training and feeding of up to 40 children per day, many of whom get their only full meal at the Center.

The older children are guided toward educations which will make them useful citizens instead of future welfare cases and are fully prepared to enter first grade when they "graduate" from the Center. Full medical services, psychological counseling and family guidance are provided.

The North Fulton Child Development Association, Inc., was formed to raise funds for the construction of a modern building. At first, this was to be for children only. Then the senior citizens of North Fulton, who had already taken an active interest in the work of the day care center, needed permanent space for their activities. Likewise, the Roswell Clothes Closet, Mental Health Clinic and other facilities started to seek larger and improved quarters.

A $10,000 grant from the Catholic Bishops' Campaign for Human Development was the kick-off gift. Day-to-day operating funds, separate from the building funds are obtained through gifts by churches and civic groups and from county and federal grants.

St. Thomas Aquinas Church of Alpharetta and St. Jude's Church near Sandy Springs have joined the Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian churches of the Roswell area, as well as various civic groups including the Georgia Tech Catholic Center, in contributing to the center.

Now a new 30,000 square foot, $915,000 concrete, steel frame and stucco structure on two floor levels will be built on the site of the present center. The acquisition of surrounding land will situate the new structure on approximately two and one-half acres.

Groundbreaking for the new building is tentatively set for early January 1976. The complex, to be known as the North Fulton Human Services Center, will provide space for eight different agencies on a full-time basis, plus nine other agencies on an "as needed" arrangement.

The terrain of the location on Grove Way in Roswell will permit the construction of two levels with direct driveway access, eliminating unnecessary steps. The lower level will provide a modern kitchen, classroom and play areas, infant care area, a community room and activity area for senior citizens. Doorways will be wide enough for wheelchair passage and there will be 2-foot corridors and ramps to further eliminate steps.

The upper level, which will face on Grove Way, will provide space for the North Fulton Mental Health Clinic (about 3,200 square feet), the Roswell Clothes Closet (about 1,500 square feet), Economic Opportunity Atlanta, Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Family and Children Services and the Comprehensive Employment Training Agency (CETA). Operating costs will be shared on a pro-rated square-foot basis.

Other organizations which will use the building "as needed" include the Red Cross, Alcoholics Anonymous, Goodwill Industries, Social Security, Fulton County Health Department, Legal Aid, Fulton County Extension Service and the Food Stamp Program.

Plans for the center are being finished by the Barker and Cunningham architectural firm. The association hopes to call for bids in November and begin construction around the first of the year.

Of the $915,000 building fund goal, a total of $680,807 has been raised or pledged, with the North Fulton Child Development Association now campaigning for the remaining $234,193 so that construction may start as planned.

Monsignor R. Donald Kiernan is on the steering committee of the association and Father Daniel J. O'Connor serves on the board of directors.