When Fuller Center founder Millard Fuller died a year ago in February, then-8-year-old Lillie Barnes Ogata shed tears along with her parents as the organization called out for volunteers.

“She said, ‘I’m just a kid, there’s nothing I can do,’ ” said her mother, Carmin Ogata, who is a second cousin of Fuller.

The Ogatas often would see Fuller at family reunions.

“It was really cool to be able to get to know him,” Lillie Barnes said.

Fuller’s funeral in Americus and memorial service in Atlanta were the girl’s first funerals.

By the time her birthday rolled around Nov.16, Ogata had come up with a suggestion that may have been a tough sell for a young child: instead of birthday presents, why not collect donations for the Fuller Center.

“She told me to sleep on it, but right then I said I want to,” Lillie Barnes recalled.

By morning, it was official. She didn’t even have to twist her friends’ arms to get them to donate.

“They were happy to give money instead of going out and finding a present,” she said.

The now-9-year-old collected $137, which was put in the Fuller Center’s “Greater Blessings” fund to make repairs to homes in need of work.

Later that month, Lillie Barnes and her parents, Carmin and Clay Ogata, were able to meet Fannie Smith, 92, of Lanett, Ala. Repairs on her house were completed thanks in part to Lillie Barnes’ money. Before the work, Smith’s house had no heat and had never had hot water.

“She just said she was blessed after everything she’s been through,” Lillie Barnes said of the woman.

Lillie Barnes cried then, too, but said it was “tears of joy.”

Bill Scott, president of the Chattahoochee Fuller Center, told the girl, “Now you’re part of this.”

Her parents say their daughter always has been a giver. As a 4-year-old, she received $10 in birthday money from her grandmother. She used it to buy a Christmas present for her newborn baby brother Tripp, now 5.

Lillie Barnes plans to stay a part of the Fuller Center when she gets old enough to do more.

“I’ll definitely volunteer,” she said.

Jennifer Shrader may be reached at jshrader@lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.