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Eliada Home
Smothered
In Love
40 children from broken or troubled
homes have 600 new friends—all
employees here at Pisgah Forest.
These new friends filled this past
Christmas for these kids with joy and
love. But most important the love and
attention continues to flow.
Joe Collett, a broke handler, is a
name firmly attached to this story, but
Joe wants to make it clear that he was
only a bit player in the rush of events.
Joe has regularly volunteered some
of his time, energy and attention to
people who needed it. He would visit
the Brian Center nursing home and visit
with patients who didn’t have family
or friends.
In 1983 some people who worked
with Joe on his shift asked what they
could do. “That was the first sign of the
great reservoir of love and kindness that
was out there in the plant,” Joe said.
About 70 folks on Joe’s shift put
together a Christmas party in 1983.
They purchased gifts for each patient
that didn’t have family and they shared
their time and caring at the nursing home.
“Things started to roll from that
point,” noted Joe. "I couldn’t have stop
ped it if I wanted to. More and more
people here heard about what we were
doing and asked what they could do.”
The next event was a bingo party for
Brian Center residents. Over 100 people
gave to the party gifts, food and their time.
With more and more people wanting
to participate in similar programs Joe
looked around for another worthy
organization. He investigated Eliada
Home for Children in Asheville and felt
the home would benefit from the rush of
love and attention being generated
around him.
A grass-roots organization developed
throughout the paper and film plants
under the direction of Joe. A list of
needs was distributed.
By Christmas over 600 people were
involved. Two Christmas parties were
held with over 150 paper and film
employees and their families attending.
They brought bikes, dolls, stereos and
great gobs of caring.
Every child at the home had an
individual sponsoring family who spent
time with the child.
“What’s most exciting is what’s hap
pened since Christmas,” said Bob Hoff
man at Eliada. “Over 25 families have
made application to be a sponsor family
and several families have taken the
training to enable them to take a child
into their home on weekends or over
night. Company employees are
attempting to recruit people and
materials to expand workshop programs.”
1 Joe Collett from Finishing has his
hands full with one of his new young
friends.
2 Joan Owen from Finishing enjoys a
child’s happiness with his new doll.
3 Joe, Joan, and Jerry Owen from
Machine Room and Steve Underwood
from Finishing stand in new kitchen
in a cottage remodeled in part with
$2200 in safety prize money.
4 Steve talks with two old friends in
one of the cottages.
“I’ve seen a lot of remarkable
things,” concluded Joe. “The power of
a group of people who organize
themselves, decide what needs to be
done and then do it. The ability of
people from all areas and all levels to
work together. The large number of
people who want to help other people.
“Together we brought out how impor
tant it is to have unity and cooperation
in order to fulfill our common purpose.
“I continue to be amazed how
employees have extended this program
into the community. Brevard businesses
and churches have made significant
contributions.” O