The Bridgeport High School Key Club has taken on a big project – one projected to feed hundreds of families this Thanksgiving. The students’ work is cut out for them; starting with the raising of $10,000 to purchase turkeys and hams, vegetables, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and all the trimmings of a holiday meal.

 

As the club and other volunteers will ultimately be boxing up the items and thereafter working with the Clarksburg Mission, Harrison County Backpack Program and Shepherd’s Corner to distribute them, the project has been appropriately named “Boxing it Up to Give Thanks.”

 

The idea came to the club by its treasurer, Hannah Povroznik, who serves as project chair.

 

“As the Thanksgiving season nears, it is important to remember the needy who often go without the delicious foods and holiday treats served on this special day. BHS Key Club plans to ‘Box It Up’ for the holiday and ‘Give Thanks’ to those in need,” she said.

 

The project is intended to go far beyond the families to which meals are being distributed this holiday season. It is one Povroznik and her fellow club members hope will continue year to year, not only helping to put food on tables, but also bring widespread awareness to hunger and less fortunate families in our community.

 

The original campaign goal was $3,500 with intentions to assemble 100 boxes of food, but just two weeks into fundraising, club members realized the goal was underestimated and the goal was reset to $10,000 and 350 boxes of food to be distributed throughout Harrison County and neighboring counties.

 

The idea originated from a roundtable discussion during which a regional representative of State Farm Insurance took part. Another community partner which jumped on board was Bridgeport Shop 'n Save.

 

Povroznik said she is excited to see the community come together for the good of others.

 

Key Club President Heather Bokey said the project is a good fit for the student organization.

“Most people don’t realize how much the kids in high school care about others who are less fortunate,” she said. “The students in our club are all very passionate about helping others to be able to sit down like a family and have a full meal for Thanksgiving.”

 

There are plenty of ways for community members to help.

 

“We have multiple ways for people to get involved such as donating in person or to our Go Fund Me page, advertising the project and helping us package and distribute the food boxes,” Bokey said.

 

Club members will also be selling T-shirts (seen below) and collecting donations at the Oct. 20 and Nov. 3 BHS home football games. The shirts will feature the theme of the campaign, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang.

 

Key Club members said the community’s involvement is very important, from viewing the campaign, donating and sharing the information on their Facebook page .

 

“Through GoFundMe, Key Club has set up a fundraising account called, www.gofundme.com/boxing-it-up-to-give-thanks, where people can view our campaign, donate, and share the link on Facebook,” Povroznik said.  “They can also receive automatic updates as to the progress being made. As to teach young teens about the importance of communal outreach, Key Clubbers will also volunteer to assist in packaging and delivery of the boxes.”

 

Povroznik said a close family friend, who grew up with little and often spent the holidays with no dinners, made her realize how much the community is still in need. She said she also learned from early in life that when two people share a common interest, great things can happen.

 

“It is easy to overlook that hunger exists in our community,” she said. “It’s not just for third world countries, it is in our schools and back doors.”

 

The community will be advised when the assembly process will take place.