You Can Help
Any person or neighborhood association looking to contribute to the challenge can email Linda Garcia at lindag425@gmail.com The Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association is collecting donations until July 31.
To honor community activist Edward “Lee” McCallister after his June 20 death, members of the Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association knew they wanted to honor celebrate his legacy in a “Lee style,” according to Linda Garcia, secretary of the association.
The problem then became how to define “Lee style.”
“I don’t even think there’s a word to describe that in the English language,” Garcia said.
After some discussion, the group decided the most fitting way to honor McCallister, who served as president of the association for 21 years, was with a challenge. The Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association issued one to all neighborhood associations to raise money for the Neighbors on Watch program, a neighborhood watch program McCallister and his wife, Karen McCallister, both participated in.
“Every time something came up, he always wanted to present it as a challenge,” Garcia said. “Part of that was his personality, and part of that was he thought it would get people on board.”
The Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association kicked off the drive with a $500 donation. As of July 8, six neighborhood associations have either donated money or expressed interest in donating money, bringing the challenge up to more than $900, according to Garcia.
“It speaks volumes to the work that he was committed to in advocating not just for Fruit Valley, but for all other neighborhoods,” Garcia said. “He was very protective, and he always wanted to see what was best for the neighborhoods.”
Karen McCallister said it’s a fitting tribute to her husband, although she noted he wasn’t necessarily a big fan of such acclaim.
“Lee was a person who didn’t want to be recognized for things,” she said. “He puts the idea out and people help him. He didn’t like praise. He would be honored this is going to the NOW program, though.”
Karen McCallister has volunteered with the NOW program for six years, and said she enjoys working with the police. NOW volunteers observe and report, but do not get actively involved in police affairs.
“We’re their eyes and ears,” she said.
She’s hopeful that the challenge will not only bring money to the program — where it will be used for supplies such as radios — but she also hopes more people will be inspired to sign up for the course required to join the program.
“Anybody with spare time should join the program,” McCallister said. “People only have to volunteer four hours a month. Most of us do 25 to 30 because we love it so much.”
Garcia added that because the program puts residents out in their own community looking out for each other, it seemed like the perfect place to honor McCallister.
