Media

Old Dominion Employees Give to Open Children’s Homes Pool

Old Dominion Employees Give to Open Children’s
Homes Pool

May 26, 2009

THOMASVILLE - Employees of Old Dominion Freight Line in Thomasville gave $12,900 to ensure children living at Mills Home will enjoy the campus swimming pool this season. The funds will go towards cleaning, maintenance and other operating expenses for the pool.

Mills Home is the Thomasville-based campus of Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH) providing residential care for boys and girls.

The Mills Home pool was to remain closed this year as a cost-savings measure due to the challenging economic climate. During a visit to the campus, members of Old Dominion’s management learned the pool would not open. When they presented the news to the staff, Old Dominion’s employees immediately helped.

“Our employees are remarkably generous. They really stepped up,” said Old Dominion Chief Operating Officer John Yowell. “They are big on helping children any way they can.”

The opening of the swimming pool marks the beginning of summer for children at Mills Home. Swim time is a regular part of the campus’ recreational activities during the hot weather months. The pool is also utilized by BCH’s Weekday Education centers located at Mills Home. Children who attend the preschool and half-day centers also swim throughout the summer.

The Women’s Missionary Union of Abbott’s Creek Missionary Baptist Church in High Point provided each Mills Home resident with a beach bag, swim suit, beach towel and sunscreen. This effort was spearheaded by Wendy Loggins, an employee of Old Dominion and member of the Women’s Missionary Union at Abbott’s Creek.

Old Dominion employees celebrated the opening of the pool by organizing a cookout for Mills Home children and staff members on May 21. The group grilled steak, chicken and hot dogs while children swam in the newly opened pool.

“The people at Old Dominion went out of their way to make sure we feel important, and that means a lot,” said 18-year-old Jesse who has lived at Mills Home for four years. “Thanks to their support, our summer will be a blast.”

BCH Central Area Family Services Regional Director Lynn Garner presented Old Dominion with a plaque thanking the employees for their generosity.

“It is such a gift for Mills Home to be able to open the pool,” Garner told the group at the cookout. “It takes almost to the penny the amount of money raised by Old Dominion employees to operate the pool. We can’t thank you enough.”

Since 1885, Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina has helped children and families. BCH began with one campus, Mills Home in Thomasville, but now provides services in 14 communities across the state.

Back to Top