Men of Faith, Integrity and Character members, from left, Bobby Kornegay and Vernon Lee check progress on a renovation project on a wing of the old Carver High School that will serve as its headquarters. Founded in January 2011, members of the nonprofit devote themselves to community service (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
In 2010, lifelong best friends Al Southerland and Sam Platt were trying to come up with idea of something to do to benefit the community
That’s how 100 Men in Black came about. They didn’t reach the goal of 100 men, but several of those who participated suggested doing something like that program more often.The suggestions led to an organizational meeting in October for what would become the Men of Faith, Integrity and Character.
The first Saturday in January of 2011 is when founding members named themselves as the Men of Faith, Integrity and Character. The planning was all done out of Northeast Church on East James Street.
That first year, Men of FIC sponsored a small health fair and a small book bag supply giveaway. Both remain ongoing projects.
The record number of book bags, packed with school supplies, given away at one time was 612.
“We’ve helped people furnish their house after a fire,” Southerland said. “We have bought food and clothing for people whenever they needed it. We’ve given out scholarships, even before the Samuel Platt Community Service Scholarship Fund that we we created after he passed — we had given scholarships, sporadically to people in the community.
“We always have believed in what other nonprofits do. We didn’t do a whole lot personally during Christmas, but we gave four different nonprofits $500 apiece. We always carry book bags to the schools and have given them (nonprofits) monetary donations to help out in what they do. So we have truly stayed busy over these years.”
Platt’s father was pastor at the church Southerland attended so the pair went to the same church. They also attended the same school.
“I can’t remember a class or a time I won’t in the same class that Sam won’t in all through high school, all through elementary.”
Platt died Aug. 14, 2021
“We were each other’s right hand,” Southerland said. “If I didn’t think about something we need to do, he did or vice versa.
“That’s one reason I know that I’ll never quit what I’m doing because of my love for him and how much I know that he cared about the Men of FIC and about the community.”
The Men of FIC does not solicit members, Southerland said.
“If someone comes up to us and asks about becoming a member we tell them there are only two things that we require of you — that you help us do the stuff we do in the community and you won’t do anything that’ll bring a discredit upon the organization,” he said.
“If they say I’m willing to do that, we shake hands, and we put them to work.”
However anybody, even those who are not members, can help the organization, and a lot of people, including women, do that, Southerland said.
“If we go after them, they may say yes just to take the pressure off,” he said. “But if they come and asked us ‘What can I do to be a member,’ and we tell them then nine times out of 10 they are going to help in one way or another.”
Currently the organization is raising funds to complete the renovation of a wing of the old Carver High School that will serve as its headquarters.
It will be named the Henrietta Williams Community Center in tribute to the late Williams who spent most of her 107 years in service to others and the community.
Follow Men of FIC on Facebook.
