Bridgeport Presbyterian Church will once again host a two-day book sale, with titles of all genres plentiful – from fictional stories to get lost in during summer’s final days to how-to and spiritual-based works. Leading up to that Aug. 24-25 book sale, the church will – for the first time – take part in this weekend’s city-wide yard sale.

 

Proceeds from both events will benefit its children’s health pantry; a project which has been ongoing since 2002 and through which thousands of hygiene kits have been distributed to children across Harrison County.

 

For the past 16 years, that program has been headed up by Betty Jo Jones, a retiree of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

 

“We provide personal hygiene kits to underprivileged children and we do that by giving kits to people who work with such children and identify them,” said Jones. “Those individuals include social workers and teachers, as well as those who work at United Hospital Center.”

 

Kits include toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, deodorant, lotion, hair brushes and/or combs, nail clippers, wash cloths and large bath towels.

 

Service organizations donate some of the items, but the church purchases many also, Jones said. It has been a major undertaking, one which started at the request of the West Virginia DHHR.

 

“They asked us to start these kits because they were getting an increase in case load of children who needed them,” Jones said. “They wanted the products to demonstrate to the parents and children how to improve living conditions.”

 

At times, household cleaning products are also distributed, as are lice eradication kits.

 

Through the years, the children’s health pantry has worked with various agencies; the primary present one being the WV Right from the Start Program. Kits are also placed through the Clarksburg Mission, the Harrison County Health Department and the Ronald McDonald House, among other agencies.

 

In addition to items previously mentioned, the church will accept donations of new children’s books, new diaper bags and new infant blankets, which are distributed to expecting moms.

 

Jones said some of the need stems from poverty, unclean living conditions and drug addiction. The need has risen and fallen during some years, but it is always there.

 

Bridgeport Presbyterian Church appreciates support of the program. The church is located on John Calvin Drive, just across from Compton Park. 

 

The church’s yard sale will open at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and will be ongoing until items are gone or scarce. The book sale will run 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. Aug. 24-25. On both days, hotdogs and other concessions will be available for purchase, all proceeds benefiting the children’s health pantry.