Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Seeing a need in the communities of Pocahontas County, the Pocahontas County Prevention Coalition collaborated with the Pocahontas County Free Libraries and Visitors Centers to install Blessing Boxes at three of the five county libraries.
The Blessing Boxes will be located at Durbin, Green Bank and McClintic libraries and are all sponsored by local organizations and businesses.
The Durbin box was the first to be installed and is sponsored by Youth Health Services, Inc.
“We’re working with local churches and different people and businesses are volunteering to make sure that it stays filled,” YHS’s Peggy Stull said. “It’s just to help people in the community that might need a hand up with some food. In Durbin, because there are a lot of kids and with school schedules being so crazy and different, we’re focusing on that.”
The Blessing Boxes will be stocked with food and hygiene items for individuals to take as needed. Those interested in donating may also visit the boxes and place items inside.
“Anyone that has anything extra, if they would like to donate, they can put it in there to help others,” Stull said.
The Green Bank box was installed last weekend by members of the Durbin Lions Club and is sponsored by local churches.
The next box will be installed at McClintic Library and is sponsored by Sugar Buzz Inc., owned by Brandy Cassell, of Marlinton.
There is also a Blessing Box at the Dunmore United Methodist Church which is sponsored by members of the church. Although it is not part of the Prevention Coalition series of boxes, it is another site that provides food items for the community.
Stull shared her gratitude to all members of the community who have worked on the project and those who have donated time and materials, including Bryan Pugh, owner of Pugh Construction, who donated the materials for the Durbin Blessing Box.
“I’m really glad to see it up and going,” she said. “We’re seeing there are families needing help with food, so hopefully this can help meet that need for families and kids in these different communities that may not be able to make it to a food pantry.”