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Georgia Industrial Children's Home opens new school and gym

The 200-acre property in Macon now has a school and indoor gym for students and Central Georgians to use.

The Georgia Industrial Children's Home made Macon its home over 100 years ago.

Thursday, the campus officially opened a new facility that has an indoor gym, classrooms, a library, and meeting room.

The school aspect has been years in the making, according to program coordinator Linda Finley. "We immediately began talking about the need for a gym and the need for a school as well. So for years, probably beginning in 2012, we began raising money."

In total, the project costs about $2 million, and $1.5 million has been raised thus far through private donations. The Campbell's Company in Atlanta says that if the Children's Home and Twin Cedars Youth and Family Services can raise another $200,000, they will pledge the remaining amount.

Board member King Kemper has been an integral part of the fundraising, and he stresses the importance of having a school right on campus for these boys.

"They would be in and out of different schools. When they move here, when we go to get them into public schools, it would take about four to six weeks to get them in because of paperwork and transcripts we couldn't get from different schools," says Kemper.

The four classrooms are set up for four or five students each, and have two accredited teachers per classroom. The gym has both men's and women's locker rooms. The facility is also open to local groups, athletic teams, and clubs that need a spot to practice or meet.

To learn more about how to donate, visit https://www.twincedars.org/news/the-georgia-industrial-childrens-home-campaign-challenge/.

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