WAGES Red Tea Party: Raising a glass to those who uplift the community
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on September 10, 2017 1:45 AM
Foster Grandparents around the nation were saluted Friday morning at 10 a.m. with a toast recognizing their service over the years.
This marked the 23rd anniversary of the Red Rose Tea, a signature event at WAGES, honoring senior volunteers who work with children at 14 sites around the county.
So what better guest speaker to address the group than someone who boasts a rich history in the agency, Wayne Action Group for Economic Solvency.
Margaret Davis is the "senior employee" at WAGES, said Delbra McIntyre, senior volunteer programs manager.
"I joined the agency in 1967," Ms. Davis said. "I saw it birthed and grow."
When she began, there was a staff of four, she said, and her role was secretary to the executive director, Bryan Sutton.
"I wrote the first grant application. I typed the first grant application. I took it to the post office," she said. "We waited for the response. We joyfully accepted the good news that we'd been accepted."
Over the years, she has served as associate director for Senior Companions and Foster Grandparents, when they were combined, then for Senior Companions when the programs were split between directors.
She retired from WAGES in 1992, but returned four years later as morning receptionist, a job she still holds.
At 88, she said she doesn't dwell on that number.
"I don't feel 88 and I don't act 88. I enjoy doing things. I enjoy being with people. The only time I think about age is when it's an advantage to me," she said with a laugh.
Ms. Davis said she was "honored and shocked" to be invited to address the Foster Grandparents this year.
"As I was meditating and thinking about what to say, I was reminded of one of the Baptist hymns we used to sing, 'May the Work I Have Done Speak for Me,'" she said. "From starting things about 44 years ago, the service that it has given continues to speak for itself.
"I really am not the guest. I'm like the mama because I grew with the program. I incubated the program. To me it's more like a family."
The event was special, Ms. McIntyre said, as it pays tribute to those retired seniors who make important contributions to the county's children.
"For the past year we have served 233 children, for a total of 96,615 volunteer service hours," she told the audience. "We will join other Foster Grandparents around the state to toast you for your service to our children."
Goldsboro Mayor Chuck Allen had the honor of inviting the crowd to raise their glasses of iced tea in a salute to the program and its volunteers.
He praised the program for its longevity and success.
"I think it's a good time to be here. It's a great time to be mayor and I'm most proud of what y'all are doing," he said. "There are a lot of people doing good things."