I had always recognized the importance of giving to the CVC; but due to some bad circumstances, I came to understand first hand how important it is to give.

In the winter of 1992, I made a very difficult decision to escape a mentally abusive relationship and make a new start. For years, I had been leaning on my family and I knew it was time for me to take charge of my life…..I knew I had to.

Late one February night, I found myself at the Women's Resource Center in Radford, Virginia, seeking the help that I needed. I had always envisioned a women's shelter as a cold, dark, damp and dreary house with dirty beds. When I arrived at the shelter I found a beautiful haven. The center was warm and cozy, and gave me such a feeling of security and hope.

I went to sleep in a clean bed, in a clean room and woke up with a "clean" feeling in my spirit.

The staff went out of their way to help and guide me through the healing process. On my third day at the shelter, I became sick and went to the emergency room where I was diagnosed with a tumor on my lung. Again, that feeling of hopelessness came welling up inside me and I didn't know where to turn or what to do.

The staff assured me that if I was still staying at the shelter when the surgery was scheduled that they would help me through that also. By the time I had the surgery I had found an apartment and though I had several weeks of physical healing ahead of me, I was well on my way to the mental healing I needed so badly. Every dollar you give helps someone else believe in a better tomorrow.

Bonnie Erickson
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

"The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign has been making a difference in my family's life for over three years now."

I was a single mom with a six-year old birth son when I adopted my first child, a lovely two-year old little girl named Ashley. Ashley was diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome, seizure disorder, failure to thrive, deafblindness, and a rare disease named Juvenile Xanthogranulomas which caused tumors to form. She has had two brain tumors removed, and numerous others removed from other parts of her body. She had to have her gallbladder removed due to the disease, and still carries scars on her body from the tumors that formed both on and under her skin. Because of her feeding problems, she had a gastrostomy tube placed in her stomach two years ago and receives nutrition through it.

Although she is still considered medically fragile, she is an extremely happy child with the spirit of an explorer. She is learning tactile sign language and will start Braille next year in kindergarten. From the beginning of the adoption process, United Methodist Family Services, a CVC agency, has been there to assist my family. From the scholarship money to have my adoption home study completed, to family counseling, to assisting with the purchase of a special bed prescribed by Ashley's doctor but refused by insurance - United Methodist Family Services has been able to help us because of the generous donations to CVC.

And their support continues - a week before Christmas 1999, I adopted another little girl. She is nine years old, a brain cancer survivor, who has been left hemiplegic (left sided weakness) and developmentally delayed from her tumor and the subsequent radiation and chemotherapy. However the biggest challenge with Jessica is attachment disorder. Attachment disorder is common in older adopted children and is manifested with outbursts of rage, aggressive behavior and depression. Once again, United Methodist Family Services is seeing my family through this difficult time with family therapy conducted by a specialist in attachment disorder.

My family is able to grow and flourish, and some very special children are being allowed to achieve their greatest potential because of the generous donations to the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign. Thank you all!!

Deborah Nickerson
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Last May, my 31-year old sister, Sabrina, took ill. She died 3 short months later in August. Sabrina had 3 children ages 10, 7, & 5. I can't begin to relate in words the pain of losing my baby sister, let alone the tremendous struggle to understand it all as I listened to the children cry in horror for their mother.

In the midst of all the chaos, neighbors, friends and strangers came out of the woodwork to help our family deal with the pain and frustration.

My sister & I took on the responsibility of raising the children. We especially remember a donation of clothes from our local clothes closet, which is connected to our local foodbank. Since school was about to start, shopping was on the list of things we definitely had to do. The clothes they provided satisfied the children's immediate need for clothing to start school and gave us the precious time we needed to get in a position to get them more.

This may seem like a small thing, not worthy of fanfare, but the look on the children's faces when they realized that they didn't have to wear familiar clothing to school on the first day was priceless. For us, it was no less than a blessing from God.

Thank you CVC, for a beautiful rainbow in the midst of a horrific storm.

Sincerely,
Debra DeMills
Employee--TCC --Norfolk Campus

In September of '96 the area in which I grew up and my family (parents, brothers, sisters, and others) still live was hit with a devastating flood - the worst anyone can recall. On Friday morning, within minutes, the creeks had become raging rivers which covered roads and prevented escape. My aunt and uncle were trapped in the second floor of their home until Saturday afternoon when the water receded enough to get to them. The water was about 5' deep in the first floor of their home. My brother's and sisters' homes were flooded with my brother's almost collapsing. My parents house was inaccessible by road and medical supplies had to be "walked" in through fields and woods from about 3 miles away. And, they were some of the lucky ones. Friends and neighbors lost everything. Many escaped by climbing the mountain. They were trapped for days without shelter, food, or water. Several were trapped in trees in the raging water. When the water receded, there was no road and no one it its path had escaped without loss. Fortunately no lives were lost.

Both the Salvation Army and the Red Cross moved in to the area immediately and brought much needed water, food, clothing, blankets, cleaning supplies, etc. With the assistance of local teenagers and adults who could access the flooded area with four-wheelers, motorcycles, etc. water, hot meals, and other needed supplies were delivered to those who were still 5-6 miles from the nearest assistance center at the Methodist Church. There were no roads. These agencies kept the community going for weeks during this ordeal. Without their immediate response, these people would have been without basic necessities for days, possibly weeks.

Of course, there were many others who came to the rescue -- local churches, Rotary Clubs, state and federal agencies, the local colleges and universities, and many others, all of whom contributed immeasurably.

Liz Knight
James Madison University