The cell phones at Middle Peninsula started ringing on Saturday evening, April 16th. First came alarming news from Kingsmill residents Bernie Ngo and Brett Smith. Next came the calls from Deltaville with disturbing reports about Zoar Baptist Church and dozens of homes. Something big had just roared through the Peninsula. Joe Harrow and Bill Morrison returned home immediately from a weekend trip, while the entire Middle Peninsula team, especially the Deltaville office, leapt into action. All in all, 11 known tornadoes struck southeast Virginia and northern North Carolina on April 16, 2011, with some of the worst damage hitting lower James City County, Gloucester and Deltaville.

You don't have an appreciation of the importance of your agent until an unfortunate event happens. Joe and his team responded immediately and exceeded our expectations.

--Bernie & Tammy Ngo,

Williamsburg, VA

Post-Storm: The Zoar Baptist Church Sanctuary

Zoar Sanctuary Destroyed...Again 

For more than 100 years, the Zoar Baptist Church has been a central part of the town of Deltaville, and the church has seen more than its share of earthly disasters. Fifteen years ago, the congregation recovered from a lightning strike and extensive fire damage. On April 16th, the brick sanctuary, originally built in 1958, was reduced to rubble. As a specialist in insuring churches and with deep roots in Deltaville, Middle Peninsula Insurance has been an active partner in protecting and helping Zoar Baptist to rebuild after each disaster.

You hear horror stories about dealing with insurance companies after a disaster, but working with a local agent (Deltaville office manager & agent Bob Faulkner) who cares and is involved in the community has made all of the difference to our church.

 --Ken Schmalenberger, Treasurer,
Zoar Baptist Church

On the night of April 16th, Bernie Ngo, Brett Smith and Zoar Baptist were sure relieved they knew exactly who to call. And when they made the call, the response from their Middle Peninsula agents was a swift and reassuring, "We've got you covered."  

You never know what coverage you have or the strength of your agent until an event happens. Joe's relationship with his insurance carriers is unsurpassed. He is as good as the carriers he uses and that is proven to be the added-value of a superior agent.

--Brett & Grace Smith,

Williamsburg, VA

A Church Heritage

Middle Peninsula Insures More Than 50 Area Churches 

Middle Peninsula was founded in 1908 with an emphasis on serving the community with insurance products that best fit their clients needs. Churches are a piece of the agency's heritage--part of Edward Harrow, Sr.'s vision when he bought the company nearly 50 years ago. Joe Harrow and his team have worked hard to build church and non-profit specialties. Today, Middle Peninsula actively assists more than 50 churches and 25 non-profits with their insurance needs.

In a recent conversation with Terri Dillingham, church administrator for Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, Terri described the church's very positive relationship with Joe Harrow and Middle Peninsula. Says Terri, "I believe that we are the fortunate beneficiaries of our association with a business whose proprietors not only know what they want to be, they know how to accomplish that and they are genuinely devoted to their clients--a rare blend these days."

Middle Peninsula supported the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church through building a new sanctuary and custom organ.

Terri cannot imagine working with an agency without a church specialty because the agents would simply not know the right questions to ask. Churches are complex and ever-changing organizations with a mix of employees and volunteers, assets ranging from vehicles to organs, and programs for children and adults. As an independent agency with a church specialty, Middle Peninsula has the know-how and the relationships with insurance carriers to craft the right coverage for each of its church clients.

Celebrating the church's sesquicentennial anniversary this year, members of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church continue to move forward while recognizing the church's strong ties to the history of Williamsburg. For Terri Dillingham, Middle Peninsula is a key part of planning for the future. "In this line of work, we are inundated by information," says Terri. "That would cause us to work out of fear if we didn't have such a strong relationship with Joe and his team at Middle Peninsula. They help us cut through the clutter."   

Whether for individuals or institutions, our company is driven to deliver the best insurance protection to meet our clients' needs. That takes a strong understanding of each client's unique situation and in-depth knowledge of the insurance marketplace. It's a responsibility that Middle Peninsula doesn't take lightly. Says Joe Harrow, "Whenever you write a policy, you're on the hook. You don't want to get the call that says your client wasn't covered."