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By Gail Jordan

Davie County ECA

The Davie County Extension and Community Association (ECA) is a voluntary, nonprofit organization functioning in cooperation with North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

By being an ECA member, you become part of a volunteer organization that promotes personal growth and development and seeks to enhance the quality of life for others in the community.

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the use of cloth face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the state ECA asked for members to volunteer in making cloth face coverings.

Member Linda Owings quickly stepped up to the challenge by purchasing materials and supplies and making  hundreds of masks, which she donated to local agencies, family, friends and acquaintances. She left no interest undressed as masks include holiday, inspirational and sports designs.

This past year alone, she logged in more than 1,000 volunteer hours to ECA and Community Outreach programs.

She has been a dedicated member of Center ECA since 2004 and serves as secretary of the county ECA.

She coordinated last year’s successful Davie County ECA workshop, Ryan’s Case for Smiles.  Working with Davie Cooperative Extension leaders, she applied for and received a county level, NC ECA Innovative Grant to help with the purchase of supplies.  In a two-day workshop, 68 volunteers and community members made 583 pillowcases, which were donated to Brenner’s Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and the NC Children’s Hospital.

Following retirement from Davie County EMS, she had no problem filling her hours. A craftsman and active member of the N.C. Basketmaker’s Association, she has won recognition for her talents in the local and district ECA Cultural Arts Program. Several of her basket creations have been donated for local, district and state ECA fund raising events.

She regularly attends district and state ECA meetings and supports the annual county soup luncheon fundraiser for the local ECA Scholarship Fund.  She has made blankets for the Dragonfly House, bibs for local care facility patients and has supported many other projects to benefit others.

In addition to ECA, she is an active member of Center United Methodist Church, serving as president of the United Methodist Women, member of the Pre-School Board and for many years as church treasurer.

She can always be counted on to reach out without reservations. It might be said that she has found purpose in life by sharing her talents in helping others.  She would probably say:

“I’m still going.  I guess I’ll give it up when God gives me a sign I don’t need to be doing it,” she said.

If interested in being a part of this organization, and working to volunteer in the community and gain camaraderie with others, contact the Davie County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension at (336)753-6100.