Posted: February 12, 2010

Barbara Carraway, city treasurer of Chesapeake, was selected as 2009 Chesapeake Woman of the Year by the Wome n's Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.

On being city treasurer

The treasurer is responsible for receiving and collecting all of the revenue for the city of Chesapeake. I've been here since 1990. This job allows me to help people and use the latest technology available to do our banking. I enjoy what I do. In my job, I come in contact with citizens who have problems paying their accounts. I listen to their problems and assist them in resolving the situation. Previously, from 1987 to 1990, I was the director of finance for the city of Elizabeth City in North Carolina. I love the field I'm in.

Working with the community

One of the nonprofits I enjoy working with is the March of Dimes. For a number of years, I've been helping them raise money. It's a great organization that is dedicated to finding cures for premature babies. Most people aren't aware of this but some of their research pertains to adult diseases as well. I've helped put together walk teams and I serve on the board of the Southampton Roads March of Dimes. The organization is so positive and the community realizes that it's a great cause to be involved with.

Christmas for the children program

I founded this nonprofit in 1992 to provide Christmas for families in need. School guidance counselors provide us with a list of children who could benefit from our program. We then buy not only their Christmas but help their siblings as well. They get one major toy, several other toys, clothes and stocking stuffers. Since our inception, we have provided Christmas for more than 600 children. It's a way for us to give back to the community.

The idea for this program came from speaking with people in the community and listening to their problems when they had troubles paying their taxes. I figured that since most of them were having problems paying taxes, they were also having a hard time buying gifts.

We allow the parents to come in and wrap the gifts for their children. Some of the mothers are crying while they do this because they are so thankful.

Our program also provides school supplies for kids in September. We get a lot of help through partnerships in the community. I send out letters asking for food coupons for the children. A lot of these families don't have the money to go out and eat. Olive Garden treated three of our families to a night on the town and provided gifts for the children.

We raise money for the program by selling chocolate-covered Easter eggs. We make several thousand of them and sell the eggs in the city hall complex. Last year we made 5,000 large eggs.

My passion

When you see a need, you do what you can to help out. Before my daughter was born, I never realized how important Christmas was to a young child. It brings so much joy. We take so much for granted and this was my way of giving back. So it was a great honor to be selected for doing something I love.