Virginia Cook Realtors Show Heart in Helping Tornado Victims

Realtors from the Park Cities Virginia Cook Realtors office helped deliver aid and meals to victims of the Dec. 26 tornado that devastated Rowlett. (Courtesy Photo)

Their office may be in the heart of the Park Cities, but these Virginia Cook Realtors poured their hearts into helping victims of the Dec. 26 tornado that devastated neighborhoods in Rowlett and Garland. And although the tragedy happened months ago, communities are still working to pick up the pieces and put lives back together.

Under the leadership of Kathleen Schiele, whose Rowlett church swiftly established a relief center, the Virginia Cook Realtors donated the funds to purchase a commercial-grade ice machine to support recovery efforts.

“The disaster may not be in the news every day, but we need to remember that needs of the victims are still immense,” Schiele said. “I am so proud of our Virginia Cook team and their desire to help.”

North Texas communities were ravaged by EF-4 and EF-3 tornadoes on Saturday, Dec. 26.(Photo: GJ McCarthy)

Participating agents and staff members included Frank Hayward, Chris Papazian, Lasandra Miller, Bob Moran, Cathy Ward, Peggy Jones, Harriet Holiday, Dan Cohn, Bob Spurlock, Suzanne Smith, Annette Rivera, Sherri Baer-Wilson, Greg Pape, and Linda Claycomb.

To date, the Virginia Cook agents have helped the disaster relief center serve 3,000 meals to neighbors and volunteers, as well as fulfilling more than 2,600 requests for non-perishable food, toiletries, towels, bedding, furniture, and appliances.

Relief center are volunteers working 24/7, and crews of more than 3,000 have accepted assignments to assist residents in the recovery process. The center has also sheltered 20 people who were displaced, hosted counseling services with certified professionals, and even offered play therapy sessions for children.

“The silver lining of this tragedy is seeing people from all walks of life, from all over the Metroplex, and even around the world, come to the aid of our fellow citizens,” Schiele said, listing organizations such as Crisis Response International, Nachama Jewish Response to Disaster, Therapy Dogs International, International Alert Academy, University of North Texas counselors, and World Vision.

“At Virginia Cook Realtors, we’ve always said that we put our hearts into the community before we put a For Sale sign in the yard,” Schiele said. “Here’s another example that we really mean what we say.”