River City Cares                                                    2008 habitat women build

The members of River City Express Network are committed to giving back to their community. Individually, they are active in such organizations as Junior Achievement, Meals on Wheels, the American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Clubs, Make-A-Wish Foundation, American Heart Association, Hayes Hitzeman Foundation, Virginia Supportive Housing, Friends of Mathews County Public Library and Girl Scouts.

As a group, the members work on several community-based projects each year. Most recently, these have included the RCEN teams pictured to the right.

Sorting and packing almost 6,800 pounds of food in a two-hour shift at the Central Virginia Food Bank Pack-A-Thon, the members of the 2007 team (pictured at right) were: Vickie Griffith, Sarah Harvey, Shirley Husz, Connie Maier, Dhia Marcavage, Alison Meyer, Lisa Ritchie, Donna Rominiecki, Smokie Sizemore, Robin Smith, Julie Tidovsky-James, Annie Tobey and Christie Tripp. The event was coordinated by Robin Smith and Tena Krouse.

Since its chartering in 2001, RCEN has participated in four building projects for Richmond Habitat for Humanity. Pictured at right at the most recent jobsite are: Robin Smith, Kate Houck, Dana Harrison, Casey Quinlan, Genevieve Roberts, Nancy Tucker and Christie Tripp. In 2008, RCEN is partnered with the Network of Enterprising Women to help raise $65,000 for the Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity Women Build project. In honor of Women's History Month, the Women Build project began on March 1. The dedication event took place on September 9. The photo of Cindy Mims presenting the keys to the Finney family is at the top right.

During February and March of 2007, members participated in a children's book drive for the Richmond Region Book Bank. Over 300 books were collected for the Book Bank! A $50 Barnes & Noble gift card for the most books collected by one person went to RCEN president Kyra Oliver, Oliver Creative, who donated 175 books. Everyone who donated a book received a raffle ticket and that prize, a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card, went to Nancy Darley, Chemtreat. The prizes were donated by RCEN Corporate Partner Triangle Resource Group, LLC. The Book Bank book collection is an on-going project. Donations can be made at any Richmond Public Library throughout the year.

If you are interested in participating in our next River City Cares project, contact Community Service Committee Chair Robin Smith at 897-8292 or rsmith.esource@comcast.net.