Denise Allen Membreno | Special to Laker
Weekly
Patricia Muncy (right) instructs Kirsten
L'Orange and Tim Malcolm on where to put donated horse
blankets and sheets on day 13 of the couple's 50-day
journey.
Kirsten L'Orange and Tim Malcolm wanted to see the country.
The two, who have a long history of giving back to their
communities, have combined their desire to see the United States
and serve others into one journey.
L'Orange and Malcolm are visiting 50 states in 50 consecutive
days and volunteering at a non-profit organization, including
one near Smith Mountain Lake, in each state.
"It came out of the idea that we wanted to see the U.S. and
we wanted to see it in the most positive light possible,"
explained L'Orange. "Everyone is saying how bad everything is,
and we're going to all these organizations where they are doing
phenomenal things with less resources and increased demand."
L'Orange, 25, is a California native. Malcolm, 26, is
originally from New Hampshire. They met in Boston where L'Orange
is an analyst at a biotech firm. She is taking time off to make
this trip. Malcolm was laid off earlier this year from his job
as a project manager at a construction firm.
"We started Jan. 4 in Vermont and worked our way south from
there," said Malcolm. "We worked at a Meals on Wheels program,
an alternative-learning program ..."
"We also did a Meals on Heels program where you walk the food
all over New York City," L'Orange interrupted. "In Alaska, we're
working in a rape crisis center. We're working in transitional
housing shelters, eco-restoration projects, with developmentally
disabled adults. It is a diversity of organizations because we
wanted to show people they can be creative with their volunteer
hours."
On Sunday, the couple were in Hardy at the Roanoke Valley
Horse Rescue. They found RVHR the same way they found all of the
charities they will be visiting: by searching the Internet.
L'Orange grew up around horses and knew she wanted to visit
at least one horse rescue. They have two on their itinerary; in
addition to the RVHR, they will stop at a horse rescue in Ohio.
"I thought it was neat," said Patricia Muncy, founder of
RVHR. "When they asked me, I said, 'absolutely.' You would think
they would go with the big humane societies, but they're
volunteering at a lot of little organizations, which brings
attention to what we [the organizations] are doing."
And that is one reason L'Orange and Malcolm started The Civic
Projects: Serving 50 States in 50 Days. During their 14,000-mile
cross-country journey they hope to bring attention to the
positive things. They will drive to 48 states and fly to Alaska
and Hawaii.
It is a lot of togetherness even for a couple who said they
are romantically involved. They survive by drawing on their
senses of humor and by enjoying the people they are meeting
along the way.
"It's been overwhelming so far," said Malcolm. "The most
amazing thing has been the people we've met. Everyday, we spend
time with people who love what they are doing and are very
passionate about it, and then other times we get to spend time
with the people or animals who are recipients of that passion."
On Sunday, the couple helped Muncy feed the 30 horses at the
rescue. Malcolm learned to drive a tractor and both helped put
away donated equipment. Since hearing about the Civic Projects,
Muncy has been following the couple on their Web site.
"Who at their age wants to spend their own savings, drive
around in their own car to help others?" asked Muncy. "How cool
is that?"
L'Orange and Malcolm said they have been overwhelmed by the
generosity of people.
"We have been taken in by friends and family across the
country," said L'Orange. "Whatever donations we get, we are
saving, and at the end of this, we are going to split all the
money between all the organizations we visited."
They are hoping to raise $16,200, a figure they came up with
by multiplying 800, the number of hours of community service
they will be donating during the 50-day journey, by $20.25, the
amount at which the average volunteer hour is valued. If they
reach that goal, each organization with get a check for $324 at
the end of the trip.
That may not seem like a lot of money, but for organizations
such as the Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue, every dollar counts.
Muncy took in 66 horses in 2009. Of those, 33 were placed in new
homes, several had to be put down for health reasons and the
rest remain at the rescue. In addition to her five personal
horses, Muncy houses 20 rescues. Five are there to receive
assisted care, which is for owners who do not want to give up
their horses, but need help caring for them.
"We need volunteers, reliable volunteers," said Muncy. "It's
hard work, not just playing with the horses. We need to feed the
horses and clean the stables," she said.
The RVHR also needs donations of grain, hay and money for vet
bills and medicine.
As for L'Orange and Malcolm, from Hardy they were to travel
to Greensboro, N.C., to work with an organization that addresses
community needs.
"What I'm hoping is they are going to get the interest of
kids their age to step up and start helping," said Muncy.
L'Orange and Malcolm said they are hoping to inspire others
and spread the word that there is a lot of civic pride in the
United States.
Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue, 1725 Edwardsville Road, Hardy,
VA 24101. 721-1910. www.rvhr.com
The Civic Projects: Serving 50 States in 50 Days,
www.thecivicprojects.com
School
sold around 400 carnations for Valentine's Day. Donating the proceeds of
$225.00 to the Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue to help purchase needed hay for the
horses at the RVHR facility. Students at Franklin County High School were able
to preorder a carnation by purchasing each flower for $1.00 and filling out a
card to the person who was to receive it. The carnations were then delivered on
Valentines morning to the recipient's homeroom by members of the sophomore
class. On February 20, 2008 sophomore class president Brian Luckett and the
sophomore class sponsor Mark Hatcher presented a check for $225.00 to RVHR’s
President Pat Muncy
