SUCCESS STORY | ELIZABETH P. CARTER A life devoted to helping those in need

By CATHY SECKMAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
EAST LIVERPOOL -- Elizabeth P. Carter has never entertained a doubt about her place and her purpose in the world.
"Kids," she says with a lovingly drawn-out inflection. "That's what it's all about. I was just destined to do this. I cater to kids. They never leave me empty-handed."
For more than 40 years, every child in the East End of East Liverpool has known that Carter is there for them. They bask in her attention, and they have confidence in the steadfastness of her love.
"Just yesterday I had a little fella come knocking on the door. He said he wanted to talk to me," she says. "Well, you know, he never did tell me a thing, but we just sat for a few minutes, and he took him a few treats, and he was happy."
Kids aren't the only ones who depend on her. A steady stream of visitors comes in and out of her small Erie Street home, and the phone rings every few minutes. One caller asks for help with a gas bill, another needs a decision about an upcoming program.
"I just love you," she tells yet another caller. "I love your spirit. I'm always in your corner, and I always will be. Yes, honey, I know. You pray for me, now."
Parents' example
Carter's unique mission in life became clear when she was still a child in Midland, Pa. "I came from a musical, giving family. I had the best parents in the world. We always fed people on Sundays and holidays."
She carried that tradition of service to East Liverpool when she and her husband, Richard, married and moved here in 1949.
"There was just a need. One little neighborhood boy asked me once, would I loan him a slice of bread? Well, Richard was making good money, so every payday I'd give that boy's mom a bag of groceries. Do you know, every child in that family graduated college? That boy is a big-time attorney in New Jersey now, and he sends back."
By the time Carter was working as a school crossing guard in 1965, she knew a more formal approach to serving her community was needed. With Ann Johnston, a school principal, and Ruth Kincaid, a teacher, both of whom are now deceased, she founded the Tri-State Promoters Cultural and Creative Society.
Variety of programs
In the past 39 years, that group has grown into a nonprofit, nongovernment-funded, nonpolitical, all-volunteer umbrella organization that supports an amazing array of grass-roots social programs.
The Promoters, as they're known, own several buildings in East End. Some are used for clothing and food storage or emergency housing, and one, the Point of Light Cultural and Entertainment Center on Pennsylvania Avenue, is used for a wide variety of community programs and activities. (Carter and the Promoters were named the first President Bush's 222nd Point of Light in 1990.)
The Promoters provide an emergency food pantry 365 days a year; free clothing for children and adults; and free piano, music, and arts and crafts lessons. On major holidays, they serve free dinners at the Point of Light Center. "We had 82 volunteers this past Christmas, and fed 1,500. We had dozens of high school and college kids delivering to shut-ins, too."
There is also a summer enrichment program for young people that includes etiquette, music, and writing lessons, snacks, empowerment workshops, parties, games, library programs, contests, fashion and talent shows, and exercise classes.
"We have 25 to 40 kids on an average day, and for special things we might get 200," Carter says. The Promoters are especially proud of one of their new events, a Fantasy Ball for which the neighborhood teens dress in their finest and are treated to horse-drawn carriage rides and a dance. "We could have given Disney World some competition," she recalls, "it was so beautiful."
A special Christmas
Carter has a favorite story about one of the miracles she's witnessed as a Tri-State Promoter. "Just before Christmas, I ran up a $3,000 bill at the local grocery store that needed to be paid. See, I like to give people a $25 voucher to spend, rather than just give them a handout. You feel like a real woman when you can go into a store and pick out your own groceries.
"I prayed, 'Lord, you know what I'm doing, and please, you know I need a miracle.' It was Christmas Eve, the bank closed at noon, I had that bill to pay, and I didn't have any cash to give people who were asking. We had that big strike going on at the pottery, and people were hurting. They wanted to get their lay-bys out so their kids could have Christmas.
"About 11:30, a woman came from City Hospital and gave me their donation, a check for $9,000. I called up to the bank, and told them I was sending my daughter-in-law with that check, if they'd please wait. It was five minutes to noon, and that bank vault should have closed on its time lock, but it didn't. We got our money, and I paid that grocery bill. I was handing out $50 bills, and people were so happy. Everybody was smiling, and I saw grown men crying. That whole weekend was just beautiful. It was the miracle of Pennsylvania Avenue."
New generation
Carter is in her 70s now, and has had to slow down. She spends several days a week with her husband in the nursing home, and she leaves some of the harder physical tasks to her capable volunteers.
"We're still touching lives, though. We've got younger people to take over. The answer is just love. That's our thing. If you get that conquered and give from the heart, it pays off. It's all from the heart, and that makes all the difference."
XFurther information about the Tri-State Promoters is available at P.O. Box 1425, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920, or from (330) 386-5252 or (330) 385-3834.