THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 8, 1995 TAG: 9509060211
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
They have enough money for a down payment on a new van, but residents of Russell House, a low-income retirement apartment complex, are just about tapped out of funds.
Over the last six years the 126 residents have raised $13,000 through bake sales, card parties, raffles and yard sales to each other and their families. The money slowly accumulates in an interest-bearing account, but it's nowhere near the $26,000 to $30,000 they need to buy a new van.
Alice Healey, chairperson of the van fund committee, said that they hope a ``kindhearted'' automobile dealer will donate one. The van they use is 12 years old, seats 12, and has 46,000 ``hard'' miles on the odometer. The air conditioning doesn't work at times, and the side door, which is on runners, falls off.
``We're just afraid that this one will die on us before we have enough funds to buy another one,'' said Healey. The van fund committee was started by late resident Mary Acela, who died two weeks ago. ``Three-quarters of our residents don't have transportation. It would be a hardship for them to be confined to their apartments,'' Healey said.
They were spoiled by the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the first van. Developer R.G. Moore donated the van because he had to dig up some of the HUD-subsidized complex's property in order to build the houses that sit behind it. Insurance is paid by the board of directors of Russell House Inc.
Russell House, which consists of 119 apartments, has a three-year waiting list.
All the residents have to take care of is gas money, which is raised by charging a fee for daily van trips. A trip to the recreation center typically costs 50 cents; a jaunt to Norfolk runs $1 or $2. The van is used for pleasure trips as well as necessary treks to doctors' appointments, church, Meals on Wheels, prescription pickups and grocery shopping.
``We don't take the van any further than Norfolk,'' Healey said. ``We would like to go out in the evenings but most seniors don't like to drive at night. We're also looking for volunteer drivers to help out.''
Members of the van fund committee are Herbert Johnston, Betty Beigay, Valerie Reed, Wilburta Northway, Mildred Donnauro and Ann McCullough. They hope that readers will come forward with other money-raising ideas, or give to their fund.
The best thing, of course, would be to have a 12-to-14-passenger van donated. And they're not picky about the extras.
``We don't care about color - we'll even put the dealer's logo on it,'' said Healey, laughing. ``We don't need a handicapped-accessible one, but we prefer that it opens up, rather than slides.
``I know we're asking the comunity for a lot, but we give to the community, too,'' she added. ``Many of our residents volunteer at the hospital and the American Cancer Society.'' MEMO: If you would like to donate to the van fund committee, make checks
payable to Russell House Van Fund and mail to Russell House, 900 First
Colonial Road, Virginia Beach, Va. 23454. Call Alice Healey at 496-6459
if you have fund-raising ideas or need more information.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Alice Healey, left, chairperson of the van fund committee, and her
committee members (seated): Mildred Donnauro, Wilburta Northway and
Valerie Reed; and (standing): Ann McCullough, Herbert Johnston and
Betty Beigay are carrying on without Mary Acela who started the
committee but died two weeks ago.
by CNB