Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 2, 1995 TAG: 9504030096
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Medium
Their gift registry at Hecht's department store in Newport News concludes with a suggestion to donate to the charity that brought the couple together - Habitat for Humanity.
If the gift-givers are so inclined, they can help the Peninsula chapter of Habitat for Humanity buy such items as windows, doorknobs and toilets for a house the group will build this year for a low-income family.
``I'd never seen that,'' said Ann Pedersen, who handles the store's registry. ``I thought they were really unselfish.''
The engaged couple say they are already merging the accumulations of two adults - two cars, plenty of pots and pans, some china and two houses. So after they're married in May, they don't want rooms cluttered with gifts.
``We're older,'' said Daniel, 36. ``We don't need a lot of things that young people need.''
Both Daniel and Winger, 39, have volunteered with the home-construction group, which has chapters across the country, for years. They met last year in the hollow frame of a Habitat house in Newport News.
Together, they pounded hammers in several houses. They started dating. They went to Habitat fund-raisers, including a bachelor auction.
``I, uh, bought him,'' Daniel said with a shy, sly grin. ``He was $450, the highest price. And he was mine.''
Daniel wears a Habitat sweat shirt, and both have Habitat bumper stickers on their cars.
Winger, an engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding, said he got involved after running out of things to build and fix in his own house. Now he devotes weekend hours to building cabinets and installing drywall in Habitat homes.
``I used to really be hung up about my financial status, my station in life,'' he said. ``I think the idea of setting up a bridal registry to help other people wouldn't have occurred to me.''
Even on their honeymoon, the couple said, they won't want to get away from their passion.
``We're going to Colorado Springs,'' Winger said. ``To work on a Habitat project.''
by CNB