By By EDWIN MODLIN II
edwin@wdnweb.com
Staff Writer
Christmas cheer and the holiday spirit flow through Beaufort County in the form of the Boys and Girls Club as they had a “Blankets for Seniors Drive” this holiday season.
Darrius Barrow, director of marketing for the Boys and Girls Club of Beaufort County, said they have two programs going on right now for their youths to give back to the community. A “Money Matters” program and a blanket drive.
Barrow said the Money Matters program involves a smaller, more concentrated group of youths.
“It teaches students the responsibilities of using money, such as money management skills, spending, saving and more,” he said.
Barrow added that some of the students in the Money Matters program are doing holiday shopping for two patients at The Blind Center.
“They are going out and purchasing groceries for the one’s at the Blind Center,” Barrow said.
The Blanket Drive is one of the biggest holiday season events at the Boys and Girls Club as it lets all of the kids get involved with collecting blankets and donating them to those in need.
“We’ve been collecting blankets most of December,” Barrow said. “We take the kids and go out and deliver the blankets to the elderly.”
Barrow added that the blankets are mainly for those in low-income housing, but if they know someone who may need a blanket this time of year, they deliver a blanket to them as well.
The Washington branch of the Boys and Girls Club delivers blankets to the Metropolitan Arms Apartment Complex while the Belhaven branch delivers the blankets they receive to a list of places like the Belhaven Square, Pungo Village and Cedar Village.
“It’s just our way of teaching the kids to give back and the importance of remembering others this time of year,” Barrow said.
He added that the contribution of a new blanket, or $15 toward the purchase of a blanket, will keep an elderly citizen cozy this winter and give them fond memories of the givers warmth and caring for years to come.
Though they did not meet their goal of receiving 100 blankets, they were close.
“We set 100 blankets as our goal for ourselves to establish a sound community service effort and give us something to build on for the future,” he said. “We still except blankets even though our Dec. 17 deadline is past, because we can still pass them out and distribute them. And if not now, then we will definitely distribute them for more community efforts in the future.”
Barrow added that no blanket will go to waste.
If you care to join the club on its mission to donate blankets this holiday season, you can join the Washington branch on Bridge Street or the Belhaven branch on West Pantego Street. And if you care to donate to the organization, please make checks payable to the Boys and Girls Club of Beaufort County.