THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 28, 1995 TAG: 9511280287
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL REED, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Miracles do happen, good Samaritan Richard Hassell will tell you.
Hassell, 85, operator of the one-man Christian Action charity, recently was handed the keys to a 1990 Ford Station wagon from an unexpected source - Sentara Health System.
The gift replaced the ailing 1986 Plymouth van with which he has given aid and succor to the homeless and the needy in South Hampton Roads round-the-clock for the past three years.
The red van, with the Christian Action lettering on its side panels, was beyond repair.
``They couldn't fix it no more,'' said Hassell. ``It already had one motor replaced and the transmission went.''
Hassell's van gave out early in November at a time when he is usually busiest, gathering food and clothing and transporting homeless mothers and children to shelter for the holidays.
The angel of mercy who came to his rescue in this instance was Wendy Tell, who works in Sentara's finance department and who took a personal interest in Hassell's plight.
Tell said she read of Hassell's car problems in the newspaper and went to her departmental superior, Richard Hill, to ask for help.
``I went straight to Mr. Hill and he didn't waste any time,'' she said. ``He told me to go to the purchasing department to get the station wagon. It had been used by security over at Norfolk General.''
On Nov. 17, Tell picked up Hassell at his apartment in the Bobbitt Midrise Retirement Community and took him to Norfolk General.
There he was given the keys and the title to the vehicle and drove it off the hospital property.
``He saved my life,'' Hassell said of Hill's action. ``They gave me the keys and the title and everything. It even has new tires. The only thing I have to get is new license plates.''
Tell credits the entire episode to the mysterious workings of the Almighty and to a lot of teamwork between Sentara departments.
``I think people really worked together on this and if hadn't been for Mr. Hill, this never would have happened.''
The day after picking up his replacement vehicle, Hassell was up at 4 a.m. gathering canned goods for Thanksgiving meals for the needy, Tell said.
On Thanksgiving Day, Hassell presided over his annual Thanksgiving at the Open Door Chapel in Virginia Beach, with food he had cajoled from local restaurant operators and store owners. Another meal is planned Christmas Day.
With his newer and more reliable vehicle, Hassell will be able to continue his works of charity, something he has been doing for more than 50 years.
Usually, he is called in the middle of the night by the police of a South Hampton Roads city, or even the state police, to go to the aid of someone in need.
Sometimes it is a family turned out on the street by a fire, left penniless and without clothing. Or, more often, it is a summons to help a woman and her children who - without money or food - have been living in a parked car.
After picking them up and seeing to it that they get a meal and a night's lodging, he directs them to the nearest Social Services offices for financial aid and permanent shelter.
Christian Action operates on Hassell's monthly $380 Social Security check and all the services, merchandise and food he can coax from merchants.
The organization has depended on the generosity of businesses, churches and social service agencies, and Hassell is not shy about asking for their help. So far, it has worked, he agrees.
Hassell and Tell will team up once again to brighten the Christmas holidays for needy children. They plan to start an ``angel tree'' at Sentara Health System headquarters on Poplar Hall Drive.
The program will offer needy children of all ages toys and clothing donated by residents from surrounding Hampton Roads communities.
The tree will be erected in the lobby, said Tell. The paper angels that will be hung from the branches will bear the names of the children to be helped in the name of Christian Action.
``He is the most amazing man I have ever met,'' said Tell. ``I think he must be one of the walking angels.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by STEVE EARLEY, The Virginian-Pilot
Richard Hassell, 85, operator of Christian Action, was recently was
handed the keys to a 1990 Ford Station wagon by Sentara Health
System. The gift replaced the ailing 1986 Plymouth van with which
he has given aid to the needy for three years.
by CNB