Neville gets $25,000 foundation grant By COBY LaRUE Staff Cora Neville was honored Saturday with a 2001 Nancy Susan Reynolds Award, which is sometimes called a North Carolina Nobel Prize. The awards are presented annually to this state's unsung heroes for outstanding service at the grassroots level. Awards carry a $25,000 prize — $5,000 for the grant recipient and $20,000 for their charity or the charity of their choice. A ceremony was held last Saturday at the Four Points Sheraton in Fayetteville and was attended by several Alleghany County residents. Neville has little trouble finding a place for the money. Right now, her organization, Cora's Charities, has a number of needs just waiting to be filled. Cora's Charities distributes clothing and household items to those in need free of charge. She said receiving the honor was a humbling experience for her. "It was very nice, but I wouldn't want to be in the spotlight for a living," she said with a laugh. "I'd rather put on my boggin' and bobby socks and five layers of clothes and be right here working." Neville said the money will help further her charity work into the future, but it is not a fix-all. "We are going to continue to operate and we will still need money to do the things we do."

Cora Neville (left) leans over to talk with friend and supporter Irene Wagoner during the celebration Saturday as her husband, the Rev. Tom Neville, looks on. (Photo compliments of Bob Bamberg)

While the award was nice, the satisfaction of doing her work is better, she said. "Sometimes I've had a hard time," she said. "But although I have worked hard and had some tough breaks, I've loved every minute of it. I'm so glad that I can do this to show my appreciation to God for what he's done for me. I really think we are our brother's keeper."

In Neville's estimation, charity should be the church's business, not the state — thus her efforts for the poor.

As for the grant, she plans to use a portion of the money to get her sprawling facility in Glade Valley — the former Glade Valley School — in order. She was recently forbidden to open that building to the public because it contains asbestos and lead paint. However, she continues to use the location to sort and store the many items she collects daily.

"They turned the power off and now I don't have lights, water or heat, but I'll stay here until they run me out," she said.

Earlier, she purchased a bus to distribute items to the public. That is currently her only means of distribution and it is open every Wednesday.

Even at 66 years of age, Neville has had a similar never-say-die attitude since she started helping the needy more than 25 years ago.

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