Margie Vitalie, the president and manager of the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (MCEAP), was recently honored by the Alleghany Chapter, Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), with the organization’s award for outstanding community service.
The surprise presentation was made by Karen Finch, Regent of the Alleghany Chapter.
The Alleghany Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) is a non-profit, non-political volunteer service group made up of almost 100 women dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism.
Vitalie began her volunteer work with MCEAP in 2001when she was asked to help organize the thrift store that was then located at the Curtis Motors location on Roanoke Street. For the last 10+ years, she has been the general manager of the store located at 308 W. Main St. in Christiansburg.
MCEAP has been housed in several locations, but Vitalie was the primary motivator for opening the resale/thrift store at the latest location four years ago. In October 2019, Vitalie was responsible for obtaining a property to set up another store: MCEAP Home Store & More at 760
Roanoke St. in Christiansburg. The store sells items that are donated such as furniture, electronics, home goods and rugs.
Joann Sutphin, the Alleghany Chapter’s awards committee chairperson, said of the award, “Since Margie has been such a big part of helping provide our community with needs that the thrift store provides and for her years of dedication, the Alleghany Chapter would like to show Margie our support with this award.”
DAR member Harriet Williams asked Terri Lynn Howard, who serves on the board of the Montgomery County Christmas Store, to write a letter recommending Margie for the award for her tireless work in providing “assistance for low-income people in Montgomery County whom she sees as ‘her brothers and sisters’ with the mission of offering ‘a hand up, not a handout to help make everyone whole again.”
Esther V. Brann, Secretary of the MCEAP Board said of Vitalie’s efforts, “Margie’s time spent with MCEAP and other organizations is lovingly volunteered by her. She is willing to spread MCEAP’s message and philosophy of ‘striving to assist county residents in maintaining their households and restoring their self-sufficiency’ to anyone or any organization that is interested.”
Vitalie also serves as a board member of the Montgomery County Christmas Store. MCEAP partners with the Christmas Store to meet the needs of eligible low-income families who shop at the Christmas Store and at MCEAP for Christmas.