Contact: Priscilla Knight, 703-392-1580, pknight@novec.com
MANASSAS, VA—Employees from the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) bought and delivered holiday gifts in December to needy people through four community-based programs: the Fauquier County Family Shelter; and in Prince William County, the Volunteer Action Center’s Un-Trim-A-Tree program, Stonewall Jackson High School’s GRADS program, and the Birmingham Green nursing home.
Employees at NOVEC’s Manassas, Gainesville and Minnieville offices selected gift request tags from Holiday Giving trees—thus the expression un-trim-a-tree--and went shopping. NOVEC delivered the gifts to program locations.
The Volunteer Action Center provided dozens of requests from needy children. NOVEC employees responded with toys, clothes, and gift certificates.
The GRADS program helps teen parents pursue high school diplomas by providing affordable and accessible child care, while teaching parenting and self-sufficiency skills. Cooperative employees provided diapers, baby toys and necessities for the children.
NOVEC “adopted” a homeless family from the Fauquier County Family Shelter. Cooperative employees made sure they had gifts to open during the holidays.
“The holiday season is for giving.” said Patti Neal, senior NOVEC administrative assistant, who champions the programs. “Children don’t ask for hard times and these programs let us give them some joy and normalcy.”
Not forgetting about needy adults, NOVEC employees delivered gifts to Birmingham Green nursing home residents who do not have families. Cooperative employees, family and friends hosted a party at the home on December 14, 2006. One of NOVEC’s employees, Vince Cullen, played Santa Claus. Ray Trenum, a NOVEC equipment operator, lead carol singing.
