Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 23, 1995 TAG: 9511290019
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I grew up helping people," he said.
Meador, 71, works in the agency's kitchen three days a week, helping prepare and serve hot meals to the hungry and the homeless.
A native of Franklin County, Meador grew up at the old poor farm near Callaway, where his parents were the superintendents. It was the last poor farm in operation in Virginia, he said, and it provided food and shelter for the county's homeless, indigent, and mentally ill and disabled residents.
It also served as an orphanage, and at any time, there would be as many as a dozen children living there.
"Mother made no difference between those children and us," he said, and it was his parents' example that led Meador into a life of service of his own.
"I knew the plight of people," he said. "I followed in my parents' footsteps."
After graduating from high school, he went on to National Business College, where he studied accounting. After working for the Norfolk and Western Railway for three years, he got a job at IBM in Roanoke. While he was there, he helped organize the area's first Junior Achievement program.
He moved to Baltimore in 1966, where he continued his work with Junior Achievement. Five years ago, he retired to Franklin County. In the meantime, he and his wife, Velma, brought up their two children.
Meador has been working with RAM for four years. He also is a member of Antioch Church of the Brethren, where many of the members are farmers. Meador uses his connections with them to get fresh food for the RAM house kitchen.
One person provides him eggs, a dairyman recently offered him 1,200 pounds of beef, and this fall, another farmer let him harvest several bushels of greens.
Because he is behind the counter in the kitchen, Meador doesn't have a whole lot of contact with the shelter's guests, but they seem to enjoy the meals, he said.
His volunteer work benefits both him and them.
"I need to be active. As long as I am able, I will do things like this."
Checks made payable to the Good Neighbors Fund should be mailed to The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 1951, Roanoke 24008.
Names - but not donation amounts - of contributing businesses, individuals or organizations, as well as memorial and honorific designations, will be listed in the newspaper. Those requesting that their names not be used will remain anonymous. If no preference is stated, the donor's name will be listed.
Tuesday's contributors included:
Diane Pickeral, in memory of Agnes Jamison Lee
Deborah Locher, in memory of her husband, Tommy Locher
Norris and Frances Coleman
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Fisher
Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Graybill, in memory of their son, T.A. Graybill Jr.
In honor of Dean and Lisa Miller
Charles and Gladys Nininger
Claude E. and Peggy Stewart
William D. Hart
John H. Wagner, in memory of Bob Lieb, Paul Rice and Bob Spessard
Elizabeth Connelly Hobbie
Vernon C. Allen Sr., in memory of Sara N. Allen
Mr. and Mrs. A.F. Belcher
William Z.J. Berry
Edwin J. Scott Jr.
ANONYMOUS DONATIONS$285
SUBTOTAL$820
TOTAL AS OF 11/22/95$3,325
by CNB