VIRGINIA BEACH -- "We are in the flooring business, and carpet makes a home comfortable," says Kaddy Carpenter Ward, surrounded by a warehouse filled with floor coverings. She and her sister, Jane Rinaca, own W. C. Carpenter, a business started by their father in 1968.
Often, they wind up with inventory left from custom or special orders. It's not uncommon for them to donate extras to charities or schools. In some cases, they haul it to a curb and watch it disappear within an hour.
Looking to clear some space this month, they realize they have something a lot of people need.
"We hadn't thought of doing this in Isabel," says Rinaca, "but we saw a lot of destruction then, and, this year, it seems to be worse almost."
The recent Nor'easter buried many people's homes underwater, ruining belongings and items, including carpeting. Friday, the sisters will roll out to the corner of 4th View Street and West Ocean View Avenue in Norfolk, offering trucksful of carpet to storm victims for free. That area of the city was one of the hardest hit during the Nor'easter.
"Just seeing all the devastation, all the mattresses, and the carpet, and the appliances all down the streets and stuff," explains Ward, "I was just thinking how can we get rid of this carpet, and it just kind of clicked, 'Wow, let's give this carpet to these people who need it."
"It's wonderful to be able to give things to people who can really use it," Rinaca says.
The sisters will be at the intersection at 8:30 a.m. and will stay until 12:00 p.m., unless they run out of carpet before noon.
Ward tells 13News, "It always makes you feel good to give something to somebody who needs it, so, you know, if we can help somebody and make them feel better, you know, it's just a good feeling."
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