Editor, Smithfield Times

I have been a very active and faithful member of COP since its beginning over 20 years ago. I am very proud of what has been accomplished and will continue to be accomplished by those volunteers who are willing to give their time.

I would like to thank those members, many who are new volunteers, who are working to continue this organization and helping those in Isle of Wight County who are less fortunate or have come upon hard times.

Thank you to directors who worked for our capital campaign making it possible to have the COP building renovated to become the beautiful building it is now and a real asset to Isle of Wight; to our previous president, Charlie Seitz, who spent numerous hours seeing that it was done, and to our present president, Barbara Stafford, who is working continuously with others to improve COP.

I could never have imagined the growth that we have made. Through grants and contributions we are able to help so many more people. Along with this growth come changes. Many changes are necessary for reporting for grants. We have to be good stewards of the money given us and we are held responsible for the way that money is used.

Our volunteers, old and new, work side by side accepting furniture, household appliances and food. They work together in the building, separating food, bagging food to be picked up or delivered, helping to move donated furniture in when brought to the building, organizing household items given, etc. and they are having a good time while serving the Lord!

It breaks my heart to know that there are one or two who, in my opinion, would rather see this organization hurt than to accept change when it is necessary and then going to the newspaper rather than sitting down with the present board and officers to discuss the problems they have. I, for one, am delighted that we have many new volunteers who are working hard to continue an organization that was started by a faithful few. Those who are getting older should be thrilled that COP will continue when we are no longer able.

Again, thank you to all who help the Isle of Wight Christian Outreach. Because of you, COP is alive and well.

Becky Farmer
Smithfield