As the sun rose on the beginning of a normal workday last fall for Rural Development Area Specialist, Vanessa Ingles, little did she know that one of her recent housing repair recipients had some special gifts awaiting her.
Mrs. Roxie Whorley and her granddaughter Roxanna Mize who live in the shadows of the Skyline Drive in the rural community of Bent Mountain, Virginia, were in need of a new heating system. The old wood-fired system, located in the basement, had been in the home for many years and had reached its last mile of service. Mrs. Whorley had heard about a program that might be able to help, so she contacted the USDA Service Center in Christiansburg for some assistance in purchasing a new one.
With an ever present smile on her face, Vanessa processed Roxie through the paperwork and arrangements were made for a local contractor to install not only a new heating system but also to replace the drafty windows in the home to help make it energy efficient. Roxie will be the first to tell you, “I am so happy with these improvements and now I do not have to go outside on those cold winter days to chop and haul wood to my house.”
Now back to those special gifts…. During Vanessa’s final inspection of the improvements, Roxie’s granddaughter, Roxanna who loves art and is a very talented 8th grader, presented Vanessa with several works of art in appreciation for her wonderful spirit. Needless to say, Vanessa was touch by these wonderful gifts and now proudly displays them in her office for all to see and when asked, will tell you the story behind them. “Roxie and Roxanna are very special and it was truly a pleasure to be able to help them,” said Vanessa.
June is National homeownership month. For more information about USDA’s homeownership programs click here.
