We have a new face on our board this year!
Chris Adkins is bringing his decades of experience in construction and leadership to Home Repairs Ministries. We recently sat down with Chris to learn more about his career and his heart for vulnerable homeowners.
Keep reading to hear about his goal for the board and how each of us can get involved to serve homeowners in crisis.
HRM: Tell us about you and your career before connecting with Home Repairs Ministries.
Chris: I grew up around construction. My father was a contractor. His dad was a contractor. I worked on many multifamily projects in the Atlanta area. Some partners and I did a lot of senior housing, independent living, assisted living, memory care — things like that.
I was doing a lot of consulting, but I also wanted to give back to the community. I’m the chair of the planning commission for the City of Mulberry and a part of the Leadership Gwinnett class this year with Heather [Loveridge, HRM’s Executive Director].
HRM: Why were you interested in becoming an HRM board member?
Chris: In Leadership Gwinnett, there’s encouragement to get involved with nonprofit boards and things like that.
There are a lot of nonprofit boards with some fantastic causes. But I thought, “If I’m going to join a board, I want to be on a board where I feel that I have something to offer.”
As I talked to Heather, I really liked [Home Repairs’] mission, and it included things that are in my background. I felt like I could actually offer my expertise.
HRM: How have you seen HRM make a difference in the community in your short time with the board?
Chris: I have been really impressed with the growth that Heather and the rest of the board have really pushed over the past couple of years. There’s been a lot of growth, and really getting out there to have [a greater impact] on the community. It’s a nonprofit that’s been around for a long time, but the growth and the potential to help more people have been very impressive to watch.
HRM: Why is giving back to the community so important to you?
Chris: [Giving back] is one of those things that I’ve reflected on a lot in the past couple of years. I built a business and partnered with businesses. I was successful. All that time, I just had my head down in my career and didn’t look up from that. When I was able to sit back and reflect, I realized how important the community is to me. It was time to take a little bit of my time and start looking for ways I could make the community better.
HRM: What is your goal for the board this year?
Chris: Looking for new opportunities and how to facilitate those opportunities. There are people who need help, and as a board member, I’m working with the other board members to figure out how to serve people as well as we can.
HRM: To someone interested in connecting with Home Repairs Ministries, what would you tell them?
Chris: This ministry’s out there to really help those in need — helping seniors, helping people whose homes aren’t safe, who need a little extra help. I think the community should really look at [these needs] and say, “How can we help out?” These are our neighbors. These are people in our communities who need help. It’s important to make sure that we’re taking care of each other.
Become a volunteer or donor to help repair homes and hearts right here in our communities!