For more than two decades, LAMP Ministries in Gainesville, Georgia, has been working to transform the lives of children, youth, parents and other at-risk individuals in Hall and surrounding counties by providing vital support and services through various diverse programs.

And for many of those years, Americans Helping Americans® has been working side by side with LAMP founders Mary and Ruben Mauricio to assist them in their mission with financial grants for youth programs designed to serve teens who are at risk of dropping out of school, being drawn into gangs and other illegal activities.

Thanks to the supporters of Americans Helping Americans® we have been able to provide support for its afterschool program for children in first through fifth grades in our shared belief it is critical to support children during their developmental stages to ensure that they are equipped with the skills and resources to be successful in school, and in life.

Through our inkind services, we have shipped to LAMP backpacks filled with school supplies just in time for the start of a new school year, heavy coats to keep children warm on the coldest days of winter, and more, year after year.

And today we are recognizing LAMP program manager Wendy Franklin as our August Hero of the Month.

Heroes come in all sizes and ages. Heroes can be those that simply provide a helping hand without being asked, a cover for feet when none exist, of a voice for someone that doesn’t have one.

Recently, Wendy assisted a girl who fainted due to insulin deficiency by carrying her to a safe place and stabilizing her with water and something sweet.

She also helped an elderly woman who lost her walking cane to get a new one, and activated the generosity of the pharmacy’s manager who reduced the price of the walking cane Wendy purchased.

Lastly, Wendy, while on a mission trip to the country of Venezuela, gave a young man who had walked a long distance to attend church a pair of shoes after noticing the shoes the boy was wearing were worn out. She did not hesitate to take her own shoes off and give them to the young man after learning they both wore the same size. 

The purpose of the "Hero of the Month" grant program is to recognize and reward individuals who have made significant contributions to their community through commendable deeds, heroic acts, volunteering, and efforts to improve the lives of community members.  Individuals awarded the Hero of the Month will receive $300 from Americans Helping Americans®, and the nominating organization will be able to receive a $300 grant.

Mary, Wendy’s proud mother, nominated her daughter describing her as “the right hand… for support of the ministry.

“A myriad of virtues define Wendy, and this is an excellent opportunity to honor and recognize her efforts as she not only makes an impact in service through Lamp Ministries but in different organizations that can witness her commitment such as Sunshine Seniors, Ambition Cars Club, Street Exit, Church 3:16 and many others.

“A woman with a great heart, a faithful and unconditional servant and friend. Her trajectory has enabled her to always give the best version of herself.

“Since her beginnings in community service through the church she has given of herself to bring change to society with words of encouragement, prayer and actions of service and giving in Gainesville and other places not only nationally but internationally.

“Wendy constantly performs acts that could be considered heroic, because with these acts she brings a new breath of life to the people who receive them.

“Thinking back, we can remember the time when she served in support of an AMBITION CARS CLUB activity in which a girl who was dependent on insulin fainted due to the terrible heat and lack of hydration and immediately her reflexes led her to attend to her spontaneously and by her own means she realized that she needed something sweet.

“She immediately began to get help and carried her to a safe place, she served her with water and the girl reacted, the girl's words of gratitude did not cease, and Wendy was able to put her in contact with her family to stabilize her.

“On another occasion, we were celebrating the Thanksgiving activity with the homeless community of Gainesville in which a humble lady who could not walk well and had in her hand a type of improvised cane. Wendy immediately noticed it and however as the activity went on the lady's cane unexpectedly disappeared, so Wendy began to activate a plan to search for the cane, immediately went to the pharmacy to buy one.

“When she arrived at the cashier to pay for the cane, she told the manager of the pharmacy the reason why she was making the purchase, and this activated the generosity of the manager who took half of the cost of the cane out of his own pocket as a contribution to Wendy's act.

“Every quality mentioned above in the stories makes us believe that Wendy should be recognized as a heroine.

“Wendy does not say no to anyone's need.

“She currently works eight hours a day, yet when she leaves work, she devotes her time to serving anyone in need.

“Her days off are spent volunteering for any of the organizations she is passionate about.

“Really for Wendy service is a way of life, since she was a little girl, she has been inclined towards social good, however the service officially with LAMP Ministries has been for 25 years and since then she has not stopped.”