BECKLEY W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – On Monday, Beckley Pride spread some holiday cheer by giving a $1,559.20 check to the Raleigh County Prevention Coalition to help replace a damaged blessing box at the Third Avenue Art Park in Beckley.
President of the Raleigh County Prevention Coalition Dee Sizemore said the organization didn’t know if the damage was due to vandalism or weather damage.
According to Sizemore, a total of five blessing boxes were damaged; however, the check from Beckley Pride was enough to replace and repair all 12 blessing boxes in the city.
Throughout the summer and fall of 2020, the coalition recruited partner organizations- including Beckley Pride- to sponsor Blessing Boxes throughout Raleigh County. The City of Beckley Parks and Recreation Department installed the boxes in various areas across the city. In October, damage was discovered on several boxes in Beckley, causing irreparable damage.
For the next two months, Beckley Pride, who knows what a positive impact the boxes have on the community, conducted an online fundraiser to help raise money to replace the damaged boxes.
Christina Baisden, President of Beckley Pride, explained why her organization chose to donate the money.
“There are many individuals and families in the community that need assistance, especially through the winter months. The Blessing Box program allows our organization to support those in need and provides a way for us to give back to our community…We wanted people to have access to food and resources and things without other attachments,” she said.
“The goal of the Raleigh County Prevention Coalition is to reduce substance abuse in our community. The Blessing Box program is one way we reach those in need with both support and resources to help them start the road to recovery,” Stewart added.
The Blessing Box Project is one of the Raleigh County Prevention Coalition’s outreach programs. The boxes provide food, clothing, personal hygiene items and resource references to low-income and homeless individuals living in Raleigh County.
The City of Beckley Parks and Recreation Department is replacing the damaged boxes with a sturdier design in support of the coalition.
