THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 11, 1994 TAG: 9409100091
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Susie Stoughton
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Some people hear a plea for help and pay little attention.
Not Taylor Williams. Not when it's a problem he can help solve.
A Franklin lawyer, Williams is an everyday hero, one of those folks whose small deeds make a big difference. He's one of those who keep the wheels of life rolling by selflessly contributing what he can.
About three years ago, Williams was attending the regular Friday luncheon meeting of the Franklin Rotary Club. The program that day was presented by officials of Edmarc, a hospice for children. The agency, which started at the Suffolk Presbyterian Church 16 years ago, now has its headquarters in Portsmouth but serves all of Hampton Roads and western Tidewater.
That summer, Edmarc was planning a weekend retreat, Camp Magic, for families who had lost a child to a terminal illness. They were looking for people to provide meals or refreshments for those who would be attending the retreat at Camp Darden, the Girl Scout campground near Sedley.
``I felt I had enough connections that I could help,'' Williams said. ``I was able to hear a need and say, `I can do that.' ''
He went to the Hunterdale Ruritan Club, where he is also a member, and got eight or 10 people to sign up to cook breakfast Sunday morning.
The camp, which has become an annual event, has become one of the club's most popular community service projects, Williams said.
``It is so easy because so many people want to participate,'' he said. ``The list fills up in a hurry.''
Williams also approached his classmates in the Dave Trader Sunday School class at High Street United Methodist Church for help with Saturday dinner.
``I just felt like it was a great way for each of these organizations to reach out and help.''
Williams thought, Why not a covered-dish supper, always a popular type meal for churchgoers? That quickly became an outreach project for the class.
Williams volunteered to provide the meat - baked chicken - if the others would bring the rest. He arranged for all the side dishes, salads and desserts to arrive at his house, then he took them all to the campground about seven miles away, where he put the chickens into the ovens.
At this year's outing in August, his daughter, Meta, was assistant chef, allowing a great father-daughter get-together and setting a good example for the youngster.
``What I do is no big deal,'' Williams said. ``I just contacted people. They deserve all the credit. A covered-dish supper is nothing without the dishes.''
Others also help with meals and supplies for the rest of the weekend, he said, shunning any personal publicity.
Every year the camp has grown. This summer Taylor's food crews served 61 meals.
He hopes the camp's increased attendance means more people are learning about the program, not that more children are dying.
``It's an opportunity for those people who have suffered a loss to get together and share their feelings,'' Williams said.
Everyone likes a break, a chance to get away and not worry about cooking and cleaning up, especially during times of grief, Williams said.
``I like helping. It means an awful lot to those people to think they're not in it alone.''
The campers and staff always say thanks with a ``cook's parade'' after the meals, Williams said.
``They always start chanting, stomping their feet and clapping. They won't be quiet until the cooks parade around. Afterward, they always come in and help with the clean-up,'' he said.
``I just feel real good about it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Taylor Williams coordinates meals for Edmarc's Camp Magic.
by CNB