THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 1995 TAG: 9502240184
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
``I'm a people type person,'' said Dempsey James. ``I like being able to help someone, whether it's on the job or in my spare time.''
For the past couple of years, James has helped people both on the job and as a volunteer for ``Paint Your Heart Out Chesapeake.''
On the job, James is in the packing, shipping and mailing business as the owner of Mail Werks in Woodford Square Shopping Center.
Originally from Florida, James joined the Navy in 1957. While stationed here in 1974, he bought a home in the College Park area. Although he was later transferred to Scotland, Sicily and Florida, he kept his home. Eventually his orders brought him back to the area before he retired.
For a time, James worked as a broker for Harrison Yacht Sales and then a friend called about a mail business venture.
The business sounded interesting and in 1991 he bought Mail Werks. Now he's expanded to five Mail Werks locations.
Mail Werks specializes in packing to meet all mailing guidelines and is an authorized agent for Priority Mail, UPS, Federal Express, Money Gram and American Express.
Not long after James took over the business, Rotarian Bill Holloway invited him to lunch to talk about the Rotary Club.
``I liked being able to give back to the community,'' said James. ``That was one of the reasons the Rotary Club was so appealing.''
In 1993, James volunteered to work with the paint team coordinator on one of the homes selected for the paint project. The next year James was a team coordinator. This year, he is serving on the selection committee.
``The key to the success of the project is the community support,'' said James. ``We are reaching out to help our own.''
James said that most of the homes the committee reviewed were owned by elderly widows.
``Many of these people contributed to the community in their time. Now they need help, but they are suspicious and disbelieving that the repairs and paint will not cost them anything.'' said James.
``On paint day, they are awed and still disbelieving that so many people will turn out to help.'' ILLUSTRATION: Illustration
Paint Your Heart Out Chesapeake
by CNB