Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 20, 1994 TAG: 9401200391
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NANCY BELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Why isn't Santa bringing me any gifts?" the child asked his mother.
A brief conversation revealed that the family qualified for the Vinton Police Department's Needy Family program but had not registered.
Bowers, then manager of the Vinton Kroger story, nabbed a police officer and asked if there was anything that could be done. The officer radioed dispatch, and a few more toys were scrounged up.
Later, as volunteers handed gifts to the child, his mother wept. It had been a rough year, and there would have been no Christmas goodies otherwise.
"That's why we do it," Bowers says. "It's important not to overlook the less fortunate."
During his five years as the store manager, Bowers lived the theme of good corporate citizenship to its fullest. His achievements include employing a number of handicapped people, initiating an annual telephone book recycling drive and motivating most of the store's 170 employees into thousands of hours of community service.
To raise money for the Needy Family program each year, Kroger employees help run a Halloween haunted house. The money buys gifts and food for the needy at Christmas.
"The driving force is to be like Lynchburg's Scare Mare," Bowers says. "They made about $75,000 this year."
Still, more than $14,500 was collected this fall for gifts for Vinton's needy, more than ever before. Bowers, who recently was transfered to Raleigh, N.C., has great hopes the program will continue to thrive with the help of Kroger employees and the persistence of the Vinton Police Department.
The Vinton Kroger receives many awards each year for a variety of community service projects. Most people believe Bowers is the reason why.
When Bowers left Vinton, he took eight of his employees with him.
"I just couldn't get rid of them," he jokes.
The fact that they want to stay with Bowers points out their loyalty to the manager who motivates them.
"The secret of volunteer work is to make it interesting and fun and to be able to see the rewards," he says.
"We have a lot of fun working on these projects, even though everyone works very hard."
The hard work pays off. When Bowers first came to Vinton, the annual haunted house made about $800. After Bowers and his employees got involved, profits increased by more than $1,000 each year, he said.
Bowers said Kroger employees participate in every aspect of the haunted house - from building props to serving as ghouls, from passing out candy to counting change.
"It's a total commitment on their part," Bowers says. "They work the haunted house in shifts around their shifts at the store."
Bowers has earned praise from Mayor Charles Hill. "When Rob came to Vinton, he saw that Kroger became one of our best corporate citizens," Hill says. "Things started to happen when he became involved."
And Vinton police officers who worked closely with Bowers say he's missed.
"We all hated to see him go," says Police Chief Ricky Foutz. "He's more than someone who helps, he's also a good friend."
As community activity chairman for the Vinton Veterans of Foreign Wars, Jack Lipscomb worked with Bowers on several projects.
"Rob is the type of fellow that can motivate you," Lipscomb says. "He really makes things come together. He got Coke and Pepsi both to sponsor the same project. If you ask me, that's quite an accomplishment."
Bowers' brother, Roanoke Mayor David Bowers, says he's proud of his younger brother.
"I think our mother and father instilled in us the importance of helping others, and this carried over into our work," David Bowers says.
"He is able to encourage outside involvement among his staff, and he is successful because he makes it fun."
David Bowers said his brother likes to run a clean operation, though.
"I once saw him pick a strawberry up off the floor and slip it into his pocket, just to keep the store as clean as possible."
Rob Bowers said Ed Taylor, new manager of the Vinton Kroger, will carry on the store's community service activities.
"The Vinton Kroger store is the envy of other Kroger stores because of all the awards employees receive for their commitment to a variety or projects," Rob Bowers says.
"I miss Vinton. Leaving the store was like leaving family behind," he says.
But he's already reserved the week of Halloween for a visit to Vinton.
"I'm the chain-saw guy in the haunted house," he jokes. "They gave me a lifetime membership."
by CNB