THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602150577
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TAMARA STANLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Chesapeake and Norfolk Rotary clubs kicked off the fifth annual ``Paint Your Heart Out'' project, a service providing free home painting and repairs to low-income, elderly homeowners, at Chrysler Museum this week.
A reception Tuesday was the official start of PYHO for 1996. Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim and Chesapeake Mayor William E. Ward declared April 27 as ``Paint Day'' in their cities. It is a day when more than a thousand volunteers in T-shirts and baseball caps will gather in ``paint teams'' of 25 to paint, landscape, repair roofs and replace doors and windows for nominated homeowners who cannot afford improvement.
The volunteers from all ethnic, racial and economic groups try to paint all the homes in entirety on that Saturday.
``You've got lawyers and doctors with paint on their noses working alongside blue collar for a common goal. It's more than just talk. It's real work,'' said Jim O'Brien, PYHO Norfolk co-chair.
PYHO Chesapeake, a 5-year-old program, celebrated the painting of its 100th house last year. This year's goal is to paint at least 25 houses.
Norfolk joined PYHO last year with three houses painted. At least 10 homes will be a painted in Norfolk this year.
``Paint Your Heart Out day is a way of getting to the community,'' said Steve Best, chairperson of PYHO Chesapeake. ``It's exhilarating when you see the tears strolling down their faces. For many, it's the biggest act of kindness they've ever received.''
Five Rotary clubs are participating: Chesapeake Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Norfolk, Great Bridge Rotary Club, Northside Rotary Club and Sunrise Rotary Club. Also, the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater is painting three houses, and the African-American Jewish Coalition, several military commands, churches, civic clubs and local businesses have donated time, energy and painting T-shirts and caps.
A selection committee will determine the homes to be painted in a week. Homeowners must be at least 62, live in a home in Chesapeake or Norfolk and have a combined household income of $12,000 or less. Handicapped homeowners and others with special circumstances can be considered. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
TO HELP
To nominate, volunteer or donate, call 436-0293.
by CNB