THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 17, 1996 TAG: 9607160123
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 44 lines
For more than four years, a city-sponsored program has helped low income, handicapped and elderly residents spruce up their properties. Reside With Pride has matched home owners in need of assistance with volunteers willing to clean, paint, garden and make minor repairs.
Since 1992 the program has worked on an average of one home a month for citizens who could not otherwise afford the routine maintenance needed to keep property values steady and neighborhoods looking good.
In recent months, however, the number of volunteers and committee members working on the project has waned. Last week members of the Reside With Pride board met to discuss ways to revive interest and make the services available to more of those who are eligible.
``We need to find more of those wonderful people who always volunteer, the ones with a sense of civic pride and involvement,'' said Sharon Prescott, Housing Development Coordinator with the city's Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation.
Among the needs, according to Prescott, are individuals willing to serve on committees, groups willing to provide labor or financial support and businesses willing to donate materials.
Reside With Pride will act as a liaison between those needing help and groups willing to assist. Among the organizations which have worked with the program in the past are churches, homeowner associations and military units. Some have undertaken an entire project, others have joined together to do the job.
``We think we can serve best by getting out the word about our program, soliciting applications from people who need assistance, then matching them up with organizations who can help them,'' Prescott said.
``One of the best things that happens when a group goes in and fixes up a property is that it triggers spin-off projects,'' she added. In many cases, Prescott explained, neighbors get to work on their own properties after what had been an eyesore is spruced up.
Groups that are willing to help or are interested in having a speaker from Reside With Pride may reach Prescott at 563-1000. Residents wishing to apply for help may also call the same number. by CNB