Spotlight: Diane Elings, Devra Culver,
Carol Warburton, and Yvonne Merritt
The Brighter Tomorrow backpack campaign is a project that the Old Dominion TelecomPioneers take to heart. This project provides filled backpacks to children of domestic violence.
The Tidewater Council collected supplies through donations and box collections at local Verizon centers. Pioneer life members, active members, and employees came together to assist with the ‘stuffing’ of the backpacks. Contents included a branded Verizon TelecomPioneer Dictionary, smart bear, coloring book, crayons, and tissues, just to name a few. A total of 75 bags were stuffed; 50 of which were donated to the YWCA of Hamptons Roads, which serves five cities, and has their own secure Domestic Violence shelter.
In addition to the backpacks, the Council donated a brand new computer and printer-combo, which will be used by the YWCA Shelter. The Brighter Tomorrow backpacks, computer and printer-combo were all purchased with Verizon Foundation grant money.
The other 25 Brighter Tomorrow backpacks were donated to the Alternative Treatment Services program.
