By Taylor Boyd
Clark Gas & Oil donated $39,000 to more than a dozen nonprofit agencies and schools in Patrick County during its annual giving back to the community event held Feb. 12.
Blair Clark, president of the company, said the business started the annual event because of his parents, B. and Coates Clark.
“They told us if you’re going to be part of the community, then be part of the community. Give back” to it, he said.
Clark said he and his sister, Anna Lester, love all the agencies they contribute to during the event and noted they try to think of ministries that help take care of people in need in the community.
“Many communities have cornerstones that are either churches or fire departments and rescue squads as well so that’s why we try to give to all parts of the community,” he said.
While all of the organizations are thankful for the donations, Clark said some, like the schools, earmark the funds for certain tasks that regular funding may fall short of.
“All of them obviously are very much in need of outside monies. They all do their own fundraising,” he said.
Clark said he enjoys having the different groups together in one room during the give back and having them discuss who they are, what they do, what they hope to accomplish and what they need.
“Sometimes we have some networking opportunities” during the event. “Like I’m getting back to Caring Hearts Free Clinic on some hospital” related information. “It’s awesome to network when we hear about some of the hurdles or some of the celebrations the agencies talk about,” he said.
Clark added the business also donates labor to the community to help with projects, with a recent one involving equipment to help install disc golf pads at DeHart Park.
The business worked with the Rotary Club of Stuart and Patrick County Parks & Recreation on the project.
“Rotary got a grant and we provided some equipment like mini skid steers and a full-sized skid steer and we dug out areas to make a pad for the launching of the disk golf. We actually helped pour some stable footing for the disk golf that the Rotary got,” he said.
Clark said the giving back event is one of his favorite days on the job.
“We enjoy it very much,” he said.
Recipients include Safety Rope; the Reynolds Homestead; Caring Hearts Free Clinic of Patrick County; Envision Critz; Patrick County Food Bank; Patrick County Alzheimer’s Group LLC; Patrick County Developmental Center; PARC Workshop; Dan River Basin Association; Rotary Club of Stuart; Floyd Co Cares; SustainFloyd; Floyd Baptist Church; The Floyd Center for the Arts; Plenty!; Floyd County Library Fund; Chance Harmon Memorial Fund; First United Methodist Church of Hillsville; Hillsville Fire Department; Carroll County Social Services; Joy Ranch; Pipers Gap Rescue Squad Inc.; Cana Volunteer Fire Department; Rotary Club of Hillsville; Carroll Wellness Center; Hillsville Pentecostal Holiness; Ararat Volunteer Fire Department; Meadows of Dan Volunteer Fire Department; Moorefield Store Volunteer Fire Department; Patrick Springs Volunteer Fire Department; Stuart Volunteer Fire Department; Patrick Henry Volunteer Fire Department; Smith River Volunteer Rescue Squad; CCDF Volunteer Fire & Rescue; Vesta Volunteer Rescue Squad; Woolwine Volunteer Fire Department; and Jeb Stuart Volunteer Rescue Squad.
The schools include Meadows of Dan Elementary School; Stuart Elementary School; Hardin Reynolds Memorial School; Patrick Springs Primary School; Blue Ridge Elementary School; Woolwine Elementary School; Blue Mountain School; Springhouse Community School; and Floyd County High School.
In total, Clark said $144,500 was donated this year to more than 25 nonprofit agencies and schools across Clark Gas & Oil’s service area, which, in addition to Patrick County, includes Carroll and Floyd counties.
