THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 2, 1997 TAG: 9612290012
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 80 lines
WHEN DORIS PERRY, director of the Suffolk Voluntary Action Center, needs help, she knows it's only only a phone call away.
Her husband, Starkie, is not only close at hand; he is always willing to lend a hand.
``When we can't get anyone else, we use Starkie as a backup,'' Doris Perry said.
The Voluntary Action Center provides assistance to other nonprofit agencies with ``our most valuable resource, which is people,'' she said.
Although Perry, 65, has medical problems of his own, he volunteers as a driver when a needy person has no transportation to the doctor's office or to the hospital for treatment.
In 1992, Perry was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery. Then, two years ago, surgery was required a second time to remove a portion of one of his lungs.
Last spring, Perry developed more problems and has been taking weekly chemotherapy treatments since April.
``I feel pretty good,'' he said, with a smile. ``I just take my treatments and go about my business. I don't plan activities for the first of the week, but I do what I feel up to doing.''
A native of Nansemond County, Starkie Perry served in the Army during the Korean War after graduating from Whaleyville High School. When he returned home, he worked with an uncle in the sawmill business before going to work as a heavy equipment mechanic at the Norfolk Naval Base.
After 20 years of service at the Naval Base, Perry retired three years ago. A member of the Virginia National Guard for 28 years, Perry is an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2582, the American Legion, and the Suffolk Moose Lodge.
A longtime member of Liberty Spring Christian Church, Perry was secretary of the Men's Fellowship for four years, president of the Sunday school class and has served on both the Board of Deacons and the Board of Trustees.
When he is not involved in volunteer work, Perry spends his spare time visiting friends in the neighborhood and working crossword puzzles.
Perry began his volunteer service two years ago at the request of Gail Clements, director of the Southeastern Virginia Area-Wide Model Program (SEVAMP). Clements had no volunteers available to take a cancer patient to the doctor's office. She mentioned her dilemma to Doris Perry, who, in turn, enlisted her husband's assistance.
Recently, Perry delivered 24 packages of canned food to homebound SEVAMP clients. He helped to take 598 applications for food and toys for 13 days at the Salvation Army headquarters. The Perrys' son, Starkie Jr., and daughter, Hope, also helped with applications.
Once a month, Perry also delivers afghans knitted by volunteers to the Navy/Marine Relief Society.
``There are five volunteers who knit the afghans for newborn babies,'' Doris Perry said. ``When Starkie delivers them, he also picks up yarn for 17 more afghans and brings it back to Suffolk.''
Starkie Perry was the errand person at the TLC Volunteer Festival, sponsored by the Lipton Tea Company, held in October at Chesapeake Square. He picked up refreshments that were given away at the Festival, set up tables and afterwards, dismantled the equipment.
Thirty-one volunteer agencies participated in the Festival, furnished giveaways, informed the public of available services, and enlisted volunteers, Perry said.
``We have a group that goes to the nursing homes with gifts supplied by the Salvation Army,'' Perry said. ``There is also Early Alert, which consists of 20 people who call 66 senior citizens from Monday through Friday and carry on a conversation. The seniors look forward to the calls because it's a way to make friends.''
The Voluntary Action Center provides volunteers for the sale of city decals during January and participates in mass mailings by Obici Hospital.
``Obici's marketing department brings the materials to us and the seniors help,'' Doris Perry said. ``There are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes that people don't know about.'' MEMO: For more information about the Suffolk Voluntary Action Center and
volunteer opportunities, call 539-0316. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Doris Perry, director of Suffolk Voluntary Action Center, gets a lot
of help from her husband Starkie, who got his start volunteering for
SEVAMP.