Boxing It Up to Give Thanks
Since our founding in 2017, West Virginia student leaders have immensely changed the face of food insecurity for families and united a community in service. Our presence in North Central West Virginia has provided for over 18,000 individuals! We stood strong and delivered when the COVID-19 pandemic erupted. We will continue to do so and make a difference.
During 2020 alone, the committee of dedicated student leaders accomplished the following:
• Delivered 1,000 complete Thanksgiving meals, inclusive of a turkey, feeding a family of 6 for $25 per box.
• Distributed 19,000 pounds of Thanksgiving food to 15 pantries across Harrison, Doddridge, Marion, Monongalia, Upshur, and Taylor counties.
• Expanded a food insecurity reading program by donating over 130 copies of the children’s book “Mella’s Box” to libraries and elementary schools across 15 counties AND donating all proceeds back to Boxing It Up to Give Thanks.
• Lead guest readings to elementary students to mentor our youth about food insecurity and being leaders in their communities. To purchase a personal copy, visit HERE (or visit Dorrance Publishing Bookstore, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble).
• Planted roots on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College as a “WE LEAD” advocacy team through Center for Community Engagement to further Boxing It Up’s mission.
Our objective remains to maintain our connections with local food pantries, offer youth an experience to serve, and continue anchoring servant leadership on college campuses. What we believe in, and accomplish, will guide tomorrow’s adult service leaders. We take these steps faithfully, one step at a time!
As we have demonstrated every year, should donations exceed our fundraising goal of $25,000, we will extend outward to food pantries with established need. As for now, Boxing It Up is focused on its longevity and maintaining its position as a pillar of food insecurity relief efforts in the state. The challenge of service still lies ahead!
Included in the box is a traditional Thanksgiving meal: canned vegetables, a frozen turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, canned green beans and corn frozen rolls, yams, and a pumpkin pie! Boxing It Up not only brings awareness to hunger needs in our communities, but also promotes valuable lessons of leadership, fundraising, teamwork during packaging day, humbleness during delivery, and commitment to students. Price Cutter, who has stood beside us from the beginning, will continue serving as a sponsor to provide the most discounted food items, storage, and use of their facilities for packaging and distribution. A true blessing!
Community support remains essential to meeting these campaign’s goals.
Click HERE to view last year's campaign video highlighting the students and all they helped to achieve!
In Proper Disclosure: As pointed out by GoFundMe on October 26, 2019 and to meet requested clarifications, please note the following. My name is Hannah Povroznik. Those that have followed my journey and all who have donated to date through GoFundMe know that it is a project that I developed and have worked on personally. This initiative is managed personally as it relates to the receiving donations and paying expenses. The funds are received into a personal checking account. This account serves as a "pass through" as our accountant has referred to it for the charity work of Boxing it Up. Essentially, all donations fundraised are utilized to fill boxes and expand outreach. Occasionally there is a need for some printing expenses which, to date, have been donated. It was felt that pursuing a 501(c)(3) for Boxing it Up would be a costly adventure that would delay the work being done to support those in need. I appreciate GoFundMe serving as a platform for honesty and security while the journey of service continues.
