A Life That Made a Difference: Eric Honored by The Shelter, Inc.
- Old South Wood Preserving, LLC
- Mar 5
- 2 min read
Eric's Involvement with The Shelter
Eric first became involved with the Shelter in 2019 and continued pouring his time and resources into supporting the organization in anyway that he could until his passing in August 2025. Eric was on the Board of Directors and volunteered at various fundraising events including car washes, golf tournaments, and the annual Partnership Dinner. He went grocery shopping often, filling shopping carts full of food to keep the fridges and pantries stocked for incoming women and children in the Shelter's care. Eric often dropped everything he was doing to assist with home repairs, and if he was unable to help, he would find someone to go in his place.
Shelter Director and personal friend of Eric's, Karen Niedergeses says, "He lived a full life - running a business, raising a family, and still finding time to serve this community. No matter when I called, whether it was with a need or a blessing, he was there. He wasn't just a partner of The Shelter. He was my friend, and his impact on this mission will never be forgotten."
2026 Partnership Dinner
A group of us from Old South Wood attended the 2026 Partnership dinner where the Shelter team honored Eric and the legacy he left behind. The video below is Board President, Sissy Garner's heartfelt and touching tribute.
Sissy mentions how Eric took on overseeing the renovations at The Shelter's new house in Pulaski which included building a privacy fence. The Shelter team presented a plaque that now hangs on that fence in Eric's memory.
The Shelter's Mission
The Shelter, Inc. provides crisis care, counseling, and continuing support for victims of domestic violence. Through community education and advocacy, they help to promote the change of social attitudes to end the cycle of abuse.
In lieu of flowers at Eric's funeral, his wife requested that donations be made to The Shelter, Inc. With the outpour of love from Eric's family, friends, business relationships, and people who only knew him from his videos on Facebook, over $8,000 was donated.
The Shelter's needs are on-going as they continue to grow and help more families find hope and healing every year. There are a few ways to contribute to their mission: You can purchase items from their Amazon Wishlist, volunteer, donate gently used clothing, or make monetary donations. Every cent they receive goes towards changing someone's life and providing them with the resources and support they need to move forward.
