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Local volunteers make a difference on special day
Bruce Matlock photo
Jude Pfeufer, Kristi Madison Pfeufer and Kathy Walker helped replace the flooring at a Statesville Habitat house.
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Published: January 20, 2009
Jude and Kristi Pfeufer spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day renovating a Habitat for Humanity home in Statesville.
The couple worked alongside West Middle School teacher Kathy Walker as they laid flooring in the home.
Such a partnership would not have been possible more than 40 years ago had it not been for the fight for racial equality and civil rights that King led and ultimately gave his life for.
The volunteers said they appreciated the significance of the day, which is why they wanted to give their time and talents.
"In '64 when I was born there were so many things I couldn't do and now I want to do anything possible to help someone else," Walker said.
Before leaving on school break, Walker encouraged her students to interact in their community during their time away from class.
She is practicing what she preached because she feels strongly about being an active and integral part of her community.
"I do believe in the idea of giving back," Walker said.
Kristi Pfeufer said the day meant everyone needs to work together and give back.
She and her husband wanted to volunteer to give thanks to a community that supports them.
"We've got a community whose blessed us and this is a small part of giving back," she said.
The trio was a part of a contingent of some 30 volunteers who signed on to make a difference in their community.
Volunteers were dispatched to several locations in the city, including a Habitat home, Habitat office, I-Care, American Red Cross blood drive, Yokefellow Ministries and Barium Springs Home for Children.
They performed an assortment of duties, ranging from spreading mulch at Barium Springs to folding T-shirts for the Habitat Women Build to registering blood donors to serving as stock-hands at Yokefellow Ministries.
Robin Beckett, a potter from Love Valley, said she was called to action by the pleas of President-elect Barack Obama.
"It's been on my conscience to contribute in a more public way and I wanted to plug our new president's new program of volunteerism," said Beckett, while manning a pitchfork on new playground at Barium Springs. "Also, I think the more you give, the more you get back."
Patricia McRae said she, too, was inspired by Obama's call to altruism.
"He said the only way we are going to get through these times is if we take care of each other," McRae said. "And even if we already take care of our friends and family, it takes caring for someone you don't know to go above and beyond the call of duty."
Tim Tobey said his inspiration came from a look at the difficult economic times.
"I'm struggling like everyone else in the country," he said. "I mean, I'm getting by, but when you start touching that pain, you realize you want to help."
Frances Fellows grew up in North Carolina but she now lives in Arizona. She drove to Statesville from Mocksville, where she was visiting relatives.
She wanted to come to Statesville because the volunteer work was more up her alley.
"I could have done a gospel sing or something else," she said while shoveling mulch. "But this is kind of work is more meaningful and I want to do something that was worthy of Martin Luther King."
Sandra Garrison, whose day job is at Doug Madison Realty, spent several hours stacking books and merchandise at the Yokefellow store in South Statesville.
She said volunteering is a form of philanthropy.
"When you don't have a lot of money to give, service is just as good," she said. "Besides, it just makes you feel good."
Make a Difference is meant to encourage people to honor the dedication and work of King by engaging in community projects.
Habitat Director of Volunteers David Moore said being engaged in the community shouldn't be a one day of the year action, but should be all year round.
"It's great to see so many people take their day off to volunteer," Moore said. "It's great to see community members honor Dr. King's dedication."
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