THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 24, 1996 TAG: 9601230085
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Linda McNatt
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
Ron York and Gene Lowery were keeping their eyes peeled for a good cause after William E. Wood Associates, the company both real estate agents work for, sent them money to ``do something good.''
When the realty agency's Smithfield office received an appeal from the Genieve Shelter for Battered Women last fall asking for help with the organization's 5-K run, an annual fund-raiser, York and Lowery knew they had found the cause they were looking for.
``It was a unanimous decision by everybody in the office to go in that direction,'' York said.
It was agreed that the shelter, which started in Isle of Wight County but moved a couple of years ago to Suffolk, was a worthy cause.
First, York thought, and Lowery agreed, that people here sometimes tend to forget that the shelter originated in the county and that it continues to serve Isle of Wight along with Suffolk and Southampton and Surry counties. In fact, Genieve has the largest geographic area to cover of any similar organization in Hampton Roads.
Secondly, York thought, and Lowery agreed, that domestic violence often is unrecognized for the serious problem it is. Both men know that it crosses all borders: racial, sexual and socio-economic.
So the William E. Wood office donated the money to the 5-K run.
But York and Lowery wanted to do more. They helped find food contributions to feed the runners. Then they drummed up workers to be there and help with the event.
When they realized how much they enjoyed the good feeling they got from that effort, they decided to carry on.
``We had a meeting with them and discussed things they could help with,'' said Barb Smith, the shelter's projects coordinator and office manager. ``We've gotten a whole house full of furniture: living room suite, bedroom suite, a stereo and television. The stereo and television were taken to the shelter because there was none.''
Often, Smith said, when the victims of domestic violence leave their homes, they are faced with setting up another. They need everything.
Employees at the real estate agency have helped to provide many essentials over the past few months. Canned food, clothing, a swing set, a dryer. The list goes on. All of the things will be there when they are needed, Smith said.
The agents and their co-workers provided Thanksgiving baskets for people the shelter was working with, and they donated a Thanksgiving dinner for the shelter and the family staying there.
When Christmas rolled around, York and Lowery couldn't stop.
Both are members of the Smithfield Kiwanis Club, which coordinates the local toy campaign. They convinced the club to spread the toys to children of domestic violence victims as well.
``Thanks to these men and the William E. Wood office, not a single mother or child went without something under a Christmas tree this year,'' Smith said.
She thinks York and Lowery - with his battered pickup truck - can do just about anything. York jokes that if others could see Lowery's pickup truck, they'd probably give him donations - to buy a new one.
But it's done the jobs that needed to be done.
And I, for one, am familiar with Lowery's powers of persuasion. He's the fellow who six years ago convinced me to ride an elephant in a circus held to raise money for the Smithfield High School PTA. Lowery, recently named a ``spark plug'' in his office organization, says the circus is coming back this fall. I cringe at the thought.
Until the circus gets here, and now that the new year has started, the two good-deed-doers have found yet another way for their firm to help the shelter.
``We want this office to be a drop-off point for money, food, furniture, even clothing - anything that would help the people the shelter serves,'' Lowery said.
Again, the office staff at William E. Wood in Smithfield has agreed. The focus of good deeds for the real estate firm will be the Genieve Shelter. From home-canned foods to using Lowery's battered pickup, the real estate agents and the people who work with them will help the victims of domestic violence. MEMO: If you're interested in helping, call Smith at 357-7894 or director
Diane Hall at 925-4365.
And give the folks at William E. Wood a pat on the back.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LINDA McNATT
Ron York, left, and Gene Lowery helped organize a 5-K run to help
fund the Genieve Shelter for Battered Women.
by CNB