DATE: Thursday, March 13, 1997              TAG: 9703110154

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 18   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER

                                            LENGTH:   48 lines

APRIL 26 NAMED PROJECT DAY IN AREA

The Rotary Clubs of Hampton Roads have designated April 26 as the first official ``Paint Your Heart Out Hampton Roads'' day.

Thousands of volunteers and truckloads of donated materials will help 70 selected homes in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake get much-needed repairs and fresh paint.

The five-city campaign is an expansion of ``Paint Your Heart Out Chesapeake'' started in 1991.

Robert F. Ripley, who served as the first project chairman, introduced the idea to the Chesapeake Rotary Club after he saw a neighborhood paint project in action in Tampa, Fla.

To be a recipient of paint day, homeowners must be at least 62, reside in their home and have a combined income of less that $12,000. Applications from handicapped homeowners also are considered.

Two years ago, the Rotary Club of Norfolk adopted the program and started ``Paint Your Heart Out Norfolk.'' Gene Justice, of the Rotary Club of Norfolk, is chairing the Norfolk project again this year. This year, Virginia Beach, Suffolk and Portsmouth have signed on to make it a regional happening.

Last year more than 1,600 volunteers represented by Scouts, civic clubs, businesses, military personal, churches and citizen groups donned work clothes to spread paint, make repairs and haul debris. By the end of the day, they had applied more than 400 gallons of exterior paint to 52 homes in Chesapeake and Norfolk.

Master Gardener clubs also joined teams to clean yards and beautify with trimmed shrubs and newly planted gardens.

It was decided years ago to maintain the community service project at 25 homes a year to keep it well-managed and within a workable budget. But restricting the project has created a small problem.

``All the teams that participated last year have returned, and now we have a waiting list for teams who want to work,'' said Whitfield. ``The good news is that specialized workers like plumbers, carpenters and electricians have begun calling to let us know they are available again. And several restaurants have agreed to supply breakfast and lunch for all of the volunteers.''

The 1997 homeowner recipients have been notified, and advanced teams will set up initial repairs, order supplies and outline the assigned team's responsibilities so the official work day will run smoothly. MEMO: For information about Paint Your Heart Out Hampton Roads, call Jim

O'Brien at 622-2892.

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