Noble effort gives Beach family reason for hope

and Staci Dennis

VIRGINIA BEACH

A group of philanthropists is working to keep two sisters and their five children from being put out on the street.

Adriana Owens and Miriam Arevalo received an eviction notice on Nov. 24. They were initially told to be out of the Lynnhaven home the families share by Christmas Eve.

The landlord later pushed the date back to Jan. 1.

Enter the Noblemen, and a deed that lives up to the charitable group's name.

The sisters are $2,800 behind in their rent. The Beach-based Noblemen group is giving the sisters $1,500 and asking other donors to match its money.

"It's about as tragic as tragic gets," Noblemen founder Al Midgett said of the sisters' situation.

Midgett described the 200-member group as "a bunch of guys throwing parties and giving the money away." The group hosts The Red Valentine's Ball, Oktoberfest and Beach Blast.

Owens' husband is now serving time in a federal prison, convicted on charges of sexual assault and sodomy. Owens said he was violent and abusive to her and their children.

"We're doing everything we can to fight him getting out," Arevalo said. "He needs to stay there forever."

Owens said she has cerebral palsy and was recently diagnosed with cancer. She also is being treated for depression and generalized anxiety disorder.

"I'm having a hard time holding it together," Owens said.

When her Social Security benefit was cut, Owens said, she was forced to move in with Arevalo. With five more people to provide for, Arevalo, a self-employed interpreter, fell behind on her bills.

In the eviction letter, the landlord said the late rent payments were making her late on related mortgage payments.

The landlord could not be reached for comment. A woman answering the telephone at a number listed in the landlord's name said it was the wrong number.

"They are family, and they have nowhere to go," Arevalo said of Owens and her children. "I have to do what I can.

"All we can do now is pray."

John Warren, (757) 222-5114, john.warren@pilotonline.com

Staci Dennis, (757) 689-2145, sdennis@cox.net