THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 10, 1994 TAG: 9411090137
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
THREE YEARS AGO, Jeanne Taylor was employed by a firm in Portsmouth and involved in a company-sponsored program to help needy families at Christmastime.
Taylor delivered boxes of food with another employee and remembers the excitement of family members who came out of the house to meet them in the street.
``We walked into a little bitty house and on the stove were two potatoes cooking in boiling water,'' Taylor said. ``We were led to a dark back room where an elderly woman was sitting in a rocking chair. She was told why we were there and was asked by her family to sing us a song. She was in her 80s and she sang a church song at the top of her lungs. It brought tears to our eyes.''
Taylor didn't forget that heartwarming scene and when she later joined Allied Colloids Inc. over two years ago, she brought her Christmas memories and ideas with her.
She suggested that Allied Colloids adopt a similar program and asked a co-worker, Heather Chiong, for help.
``We had both been involved in the program before,'' Taylor said. ``We had a separate meeting, put our thoughts together, and presented the idea to the executive committee at the request of the president of the company, David Farrar.''
Taylor, who is a quality systems analyst in the Strategic Quality Department, and Leslie Peterfeso, sales coordinator in the Coatings and Specialties Division, formed a committee for all departments.
``Once we lit the fire, the word got out,'' Taylor said.
The committee chose a logo featuring a multi-colored, striped Christmas stocking and held a contest for a program name. From 25 responses, the committee chose the name ``A.C. Cares & Shares,'' submitted by Juanita Austin of the Production Planning Department.
``The name has a double meaning,'' Peterfeso said. ``The company decided to work with the Tidewater Food Bank because of their volume purchasing power. Shares may be purchased and a $13.59 share will purchase an incredible amount of food.''
Through Social Services, 60 needy Suffolk families, who for some reason are not eligible for assistance, will be helped, plus as many ``neglected'' elderly citizens as can be identified.
``Over 1,000 letters have been sent to companies and banks in the Tidewater area and we've had a very good response,'' Taylor said, ``Ideas are popping up like mushrooms. A group of plant employees collected enough money to buy a child's bike.''
Traveling sales representatives have donated complimentary soaps, shampoo, and hand lotion available in motels and hotels, Taylor said.
Tickets totaling $272 were sold for a chance to park in a reserved space in the company parking lot. And two managers have donated their parking spaces for the winter months as a second fund-raiser.
A trucking company sent a check for $150 and a vending machine company promised to purchase 10 Food Bank Shares and enough chips, cookies and canned soft drinks for 60 food boxes, as well.
``We have a `no frills' grocery list and we'll cover food items first and then look at other goodies we can supply to make it more festive,'' Peterfeso said. ``Students at Nansemond Parkway Elementary School will decorate the donated boxes. We are looking for a donor of 300 stockings we can fill and hope to top off each box with a Christmas stocking.''
During working hours on Dec. 16, Allied Colloids employees will receive the foods in bulk and begin to sort and box them for delivery.
``We'll be `faceless' until delivery time,'' Peterfeso said. ``In the afternoon, there will be a convoy of private vehicles heading out to all parts of Suffolk. Some families have special needs, such as diabetic foods, baby food and diapers.''
A ``Share Christmas Tree'' will be placed in one of Allied Colloids' buildings during the holidays. Those who buy shares may write their names on a card and place it on the tree, if they wish.
``The most fun I ever had at Christmas was when I stuffed stockings for the Salvation Army,'' Peterfeso said.
``Once you do this, it gets in your blood,'' Taylor said. MEMO: To make a contribution to A.C. Cares & Shares, send a check to Sandra
Brickwedde, Purchasing Dept., Allied Colloids Inc., P.O. Box 820, 2301
Wilroy Road, Suffolk, Va. 23439-0820. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Jeanne Taylor, left, and Leslie Peterfeso are the organizers of AC
Cares and Shares program to deliver food to needy families at
Chrismas. ``Once we lit the fire, the word got out,'' Taylor said.
by CNB