THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511170734
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Susie Stoughton
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
Many of us will gather around a roasted turkey or some other sort of festive feast this week, offering thanks for the bounty we have received this year.
But some people don't wait for holidays to express their gratitude. For people like Delores Harvey, thanks-giving is something they do every day. It's a demonstration of how they feel, rather than a mumbled blessing before a hearty meal.
People like Harvey do more than just say thanks. They give thanks.
Harvey called several weeks ago to find out how she could help a Suffolk family whose home had burned. An elderly man had died in the blaze in northern Suffolk, and the house was destroyed.
The company Harvey works for, Huntsman Chemical in Chesapeake, is generous, giving to others in many ways, Harvey said. Every Christmas, the employees choose a needy family to help with food, clothing and gifts.
``But I don't have to wait until Christmas,'' she said. ``We have things around here that those people could use. Anything would be sufficient to help them.''
Harvey lives in Virginia Beach, but her generosity stretches across city borders.
``Suffolk is no distance,'' she said.
Harvey has a history of helping others.
``We have a lot at home,'' she said. ``We can give up something.''
She could teach us something about being grateful.
So can countless others who live their thanks year-round. For them, gratitude is a response for their blessings.
Arthur Beamon, who lives in one of Suffolk's Habitat for Humanity houses, continues to give back to those who have helped him improve his living conditions. Many Saturday afternoons after Beamon finishes work at Birdsong Peanuts, he helps build someone else a home.
His gratitude didn't stop long ago when he accumulated the 400 hours of ``sweat equity'' required of Habitat homesteaders.
Giving is also a way of life for Dan and Terri Anglim, Habitat volunteers who constantly have hammers in their hands. Now helping with their third Habitat house, they probably work three or four days a week.
About the only time Dan Anglim hasn't shown up to work alongside other volunteers was last winter while he was in the hospital.
Fran Alwood, Suffolk Habitat's project manager, and her husband, Bob, give to more than the construction project.
They've hosted foreign exchange students for years, supported charitable efforts in the community and at church and opened their home to friends in need.
Bill Ashley, well-known for decades of work with the annual Toys for Tots campaign, doesn't limit his giving to the months he spends gathering, sorting and distributing toys. Recently, he showed up with sandwiches, chips, drinks and dessert for the Habitat volunteers. And the week before, he had helped prepare a virtual feast for the Salvation Army's soup kitchen.
Larry Rose, who lives in Courtland, volunteers time to the Black Achievers Program sponsored by the James L. Camp Jr. YMCA in Franklin.
Rose, who's often seen on TV in a referee's uniform during NAACP tournaments, spends as much free time as he can with the mentoring program.
He and many others believe that setting examples for young people will pay dividends by building tomorrow's leaders.
Organizers of the Pughsville Community Project know some people can't wait until tomorrow. They need decent houses now.
Melvin Copeland, Wayne White, brothers William and Welton Gaines and other volunteers are remodeling houses and building new ones for their neighbors in northern Suffolk and Chesapeake.
All around us there are PTA volunteers, church workers, community helpers and countless people who donate their time to charities from Crittenden to Capron and from Whaleyville to Zuni.
Neighbors were out last week in Suffolk, helping repair houses damaged by storm. And whenever there's a disaster, Red Cross volunteers like Cliff Barfield and Sanny and Betty Chapman are there to assist the victims.
And while some of us are stuffing ourselves with corn-bread dressing and pumpkin pie, volunteers will be serving sliced turkey and sweet potatoes at the Salvation Army's soup kitchen.
But then, feeding the hungry is an ongoing project throughout the year, with various churches taking turns each Thursday and Saturday.
There are plenty of ways to show our thanks. We don't have to wait for a special occasion. by CNB