‘We love this community:’ Perry Volunteer Outreach celebrates 25th anniversary

PERRY – Perry Volunteer Outreach recently celebrated its 25th anniversary on April 1 and CEO Larry Wood reflected on the work they have accomplished in south Houston County.

The outreach was started in 2000 by Perry businessman Frank Shelton and community members. It is a privately funded and local non-profit charity located at 1100 Meeting Street. 

Wood described Shelton as having a strong heart for the community, who tried to support people short on resources.

Shelton and community members started the organization to help residents of south Houston County, primarily Perry and Kathleen. The organization also helps residents on the Pulaski, Dooly and Macon county lines. 

Wood said their primary way of helping residents is by offering them emergency funds for utility bills, such as electricity and water bills, rent and medical assistance. He shared it isn’t a large amount, but enough to help somebody with their challenges. 

The organization also receives donations, such as furniture, appliances and household items, and will give them away to people who put in a request. 

To receive emergency assistance, Wood explained, a resident must come in and fill out an application. PVO will then look at their application and make a decision on how they can help. The organization has a limit of one visit every six months and funds are limited to a certain dollar amount.

“That’s a huge part of what we do. There are several other things that we do to try to serve the community. It’s just to help people that are short on resources – people that live in this area: Perry residents, south Houston County residents,” he said

Churches and residents have supported the organization through donations. Wood said that the organization is primarily funded by a trust Shelton set up years ago. He said they have been working out of the trust to help people in Perry. 

Wood, a 40-year resident of Perry, has been working with the organization for 20 years. He came to the city as a staff member at First Baptist Church in the early 1980s. 

He worked there for a few years, then went on to serve at other churches in the area. Eventually, he came on to PVO in 2005 and has been serving ever since. 

After Shelton passed away in 2019, Wood took over daily administration and operations, along with two volunteers, one who often does furniture pickup and delivery. Wood mentioned the organization is governed by a board of residents who meet several times during the year to oversee the PVO.  

Besides financial support, PVO also offers rides to medical appointments using a wheelchair-accessible van. Wood mentioned medical transport isn’t just for those who are immobile, but open for anyone who does not have access to transportation.

The organization has also done minor physical repairs on homes and built many handicap-access ramps. They also provide a food pantry, with shelves full of dry goods, which Wood encourages the community to take advantage of.

He said there is always a need, especially in the last few years. Among many struggling financially, many receiving assistance are elderly or disabled and on a fixed income and government assistance, something stretched thin by unexpected expenses.

Wood remembers a statement made by Jesus Christ, “You’ll always have the poor with you,” which is a script he lives by. He said poverty is not a judgment to put people down for; he believes it is stating a fact that some people have a lot of resources but others have few.

“The ones who do have resources are commanded to reach out and to help those who can’t do what they need to do to get through life and they need somebody to come alongside them. That’s what we’re here for,” he said.

PVO’s growth has been consistent as far as the number of people they have helped, Wood said. He anticipates their outreach will grow as the community grows, more offer resources and more seek help. On average, 40 to 50 people currently seek out help weekly. 

Wood sees PVO as the connection between those wanting to offer resources and those who need them, those who could support themselves but do not have the resources to get to that point yet.

“We’re kind of in the middle, we try to get those two together,” he said.

The organization and its supporters are approaching their outreach from a Christian standpoint, without pity, something akin to judgment, according to Wood. He likes to think of it as approaching people with compassion, wanting to get into a person’s situation and lift them out. 

Wood believes God intends for humanity to endure challenges and then reach out to others. He said if people can lay down their pride and realize people need help, they have the opportunity to turn around and help someone else. 

“We want to step in and help in an emergency situation. What we would like to do is help encourage people – that with God’s help, they have the ability to work through this and when they receive their blessings, they are able to produce resources and they in turn can help somebody else,” he said.

Wood encourages anyone who wants to help to call them. When someone calls, he will give a “verbal tour,” where interested volunteers learn what they do and he learns their gifts and abilities. He hopes PVO will bring in new talent and provide a path for integrating volunteers into the organization.

“I try to match whatever people’s gifts or talents are with the needs in the community,” he said.

Wood believes in accountability, and said the organization strives to help those who are willing to help themselves; there is a difference between “can’t” and “won’t.” He encourages community members who see someone in legitimate need to point them to Perry Volunteer Outreach. 

“If someone is willing, but they can’t, we want to be there to walk with them. We love this community. We want to serve it,” he said. 

Perry Volunteer Outreach is located at 1100 Meeting Street and can be reached at (478) 218- 2274.