In the meantime, through the generosity of R. W. Murray Co., the former chapter house is being renovated and reverted to a home.

Red Cross volunteers and staff cleared out the house and Murray is restoring the porch, repairing ceilings, laying down new flooring, removing office wiring and shelving, patching walls and painting.

Last week, more than a dozen Murray employees assisted with painting and other finishing touches to make the home ready for new occupants the first of the year.

"Although our old chapter house was small, cramped and showing its age, we made the best of it. It was endearing and not at all unusual for a smaller area Red Cross to be located in a house," said chapter CEO Karen Wayne. "That said, we are really excited about our new office and the ability to serve our clients in an aesthetically pleasing, more mission-designed environment."

The exciting thing about the move is the support of the community, said Wayne. She added: "In fact, the chapter could not have made this move without financial assistance and in-kind donation from dozens of businesses and individuals and the invaluable donation of time and talent by volunteers. It's really very humbling."

Red Cross volunteers were instrumental in the preparation of the new office. For weeks, volunteers cleaned, laid carpet, painted, set up cubicles, moved in furniture and office equipment, set up computers and packed and unpacked boxes to make the new office ready for business.

The new office provides 2,000 more square feet of space than the former location. The more visible location and ample parking have already increased walk-in traffic.

The new site gives the chapter a dedicated training room that makes it easier to hold health and safety courses such as CPR and first aid in the daytime as well as nights and weekends.

It also offers a visible retail area to show and sell important emergency preparedness items like first aid kits, preparedness backpacks, breathing barriers and emergency radios.

The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and an official ribbon cutting and open house will be Dec. 18 at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend and should contact Deborah Campbell by Monday.

Article from Inside NOVA
Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr