From the living room of his Thornburg home, the Rev. Otis Kay Sr. casually notes that he was born in a house just a mile down the road.
That was nearly 80 years ago.
Since then, he has served two years in the Marines, worked in construction and spent 30 years at the Quantico Marine Corps Base as a heavy equipment operator and a supervisor.
To this day, he continues to farm soybeans, wheat, corn and hay in Spotsylvania and Caroline counties. He and his wife, Pauline, also have raised six children. They now have 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
It’s safe to say Rev. Kay believes in the values of service, family and community.
He is also all-too-familiar with life’s challenges, hardships and grief. Many of his friends were sent to Vietnam. Some never came back. Many who did were never the same.
Two years ago, he mourned the passing of his oldest son. His life experiences have left him not only hurting, but also filled with an abundance of empathy.
“I always try to have a giving heart,” he said. “Most of the time we don’t really see or understand how other people might be suffering and how hard it is to just get by.”
That understanding led Rev. Kay to join the CARE Charity Board, which awards funds donated through REC’s The Power of Change.
“The Board is really mindful,” he said. “We get to the nuts and bolts of trying to distribute the funds to the best of our ability to get the most bang for the dollar.”
Rev. Kay takes special care to support causes that help families in need.
“There are so many who don’t even have enough food,” he said. “We try to do what we can to help those folks. When we see the applications come in and learn about the programs and the people being served — many give out so many meals, it really touches your heart.”
He hopes REC members recognize that small donations can make a big difference, and the more members who enroll in The Power of Change, the more money can be awarded to help our communities.
“I always tell people it’s a good way of healing the community, and the money each month is so small that you won’t miss it. The organizations we help are down in the trenches, and they really go out and try to meet the needs of our communities — so we really encourage everyone to join and give.”
Making an Impact
Enroll Today: For employees who are also members, your small change - the average monthly donation is just 52 cents - makes a big difference. The more members who enroll, the more money is given out. Learn more and enroll today.
