About Our Area
Spirit of Voluntarism Alive and Well in Page County
By Pamela McNeely Flasch
Apr 21, 2008, 12:05

            As a community that is nearly 300 years old, Page County was built on the frontier ethics of voluntarism, involvement and responsibility. This spirit of fellowship is evident in countless residents who devote their spare time to endeavors that strengthen the society. 

            Habitat for Humanity is a highly-visible and active charity, currently building a twelfth home and celebrating its ten-year anniversary in Page County. Sam McNeely, who serves on the board, also works at the sites building homes.

            A Page County resident since 1999, the West Virginia, native is a descendant of Luray pioneers Peter and Mary Ruffner. Sam and wife Betty have four children, two of whom have followed them to Luray. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Sam comes to Habitat with more than 40 years experience in engineering, retiring from the Savannah River Site nuclear facility in Aiken, South Carolina. Sam is also a volunteer driving a van that takes veterans from the valley to the VA Hospital in Martinsburg, WV.

            "I started working with HFH in 2002 because I had always felt it was one of the charities that helped the needy the most. Everyone needs adequate shelter. It was moving for me to see a single mother and her children working to help build their home," Sam says.

            The amount of money raised varies each year. An average Habitat home takes about $50K to build. "We always seem to obtain money as it is needed," he observed with an air of wonder.

            "Our money comes from individuals, churches, civic organizations and corporate donors. We have fundraising events such as progressive dinners, musicales and raffles. We also receive some grants and when required, we get short-term loans. We live in communities where the people are very generous with their money."

            The board of directors is made up of a diverse group of mostly retired persons, as well as some who are still in the workforce. They include ministers, business executives, engineers, health professionals and entrepreneurs.

            Individuals also contribute. Leon Rickard of Stanley owns a block laying business and donated labor to the building of houses #10 and #11 in Stanley. "I had a good year last year. The Lord was good to me and I wanted to give back." Sheriff Danny Presgraves is another in-kind donor. He allows work detail inmates from the county jail to help build the homes. In 2004, 203 inmates logged 714 hours in for the organization.

            Local manufacturer Emco, a division of Andersen Windows, will sponsor a "Blitz Build" in April 2005. Through this effort, a home will be erected in one week. A team of Andersen employees from Minnesota will assist local volunteers to build a home on Eighth Avenue in Luray.  

            Tom LaFrance, who also serves on the Habitat board, is an assistant governor of Area 2 for Rotary International. Born in Del Rio, Texas, Tom graduated from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He has resided in Luray for the last 18 years and considers Luray his home. "Bunnie and I have three daughters and nine grandchildren. They all reside in Page County, as well as my mother. So you can see why we call Page County home."          

             "I became involved in the Luray Rotary Club in 1987 after transferring to Luray as Wrangler Division Manager. My involvement in Habitat for Humanity dates back to the involvement we at Wrangler had with Habitat as a part of our Community Charitable Committee. After I retired in Dec. of 2000, Paul Mishler asked if I would like to be a board member of Page County Habitat for Humanity. I agreed and the rest is, as they say, history," Tom remembers.

        "Our Rotary club became involved with the Polio Plus program back in 1987 as best as I have been able to track. We made an initial donation at that time and some of our club members also sent moneys to The Rotary Foundation in support of the program. In the Rotary year 2002-2003 all Rotarians were asked to recommit to a three-year goal of $22/Rotarian/year for a total of $66 per Rotarian. This sum would supply an amount of moneys when combined with the efforts of governments, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies of donor nations that were felt to be adequate to supply vaccine to eradicate Polio from the face of the earth."

            The target date to eradicate polio was Rotary's 100-year celebration in 2005. By the time the world is certified polio-free, Rotary's contribution will exceed US$600 Million. The local Luray Rotary Club, with a goal of $3630, will exceed the goal by more than 400% by the end of this year, with contributions in excess of $16,000 by years end. The success of the campaign has truly been global in scope. Contributions have been received from 528 of the 529 Rotary Districts and from 153 countries. More than 20,000 clubs have made contributions. Eight districts have raised more than $1 million each.

            Most of the moneys raised by the Luray Rotary club have been in response to individual contributions by local members. For the last three years the club has conducted an individual campaign with members, collecting more than $5,000 each year. The Rotary-sponsored Interact Club at Luray High School has donated $750.

            The Luray Rotary Club has been involved in the community for more than 75 years and has put hundreds of thousands of dollars back into the community. Each year the Community Service Committee distributes the proceeds of the Rotary Golf Tournament, which is well over $10,000. This money is dispersed in the community as donations to non-profit groups, scholarships to students and other projects.

                       In addition to the individual satisfaction that comes with volunteering for local charities, there is also a sense of fulfillment in being part of a group.

            "The membership of each of these organizations is composed of the greatest group of the most generous and dedicated group of individuals that we have in our communities as we see in all of our civic organizations. I can only say what a privilege it is to be a part of these organizations," Tom remarks.