How the Craddock Center Began

The Craddock Center began when a Head Start staffer in Ellijay, Georgia, called Cherry Log Christian Church and spoke to Fred Craddock.

“I hear you care about poor people,” she said.

“Well, yes, we do,” Craddock replied.

“I have a woman here with four children, another one on the way, and no place to stay and nothing to eat.”

“I’ll come down.”

The poverty in the nine counties of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina that are served by the center is immense. Craddock realized that children need to have their basic needs met and that they need something more: they need to be delighted, to laugh, sing, and dance. And they need a book of their own.

The center provides this, and much more to our students and families in the surrounding areas.