Meadowbrook Mall, UniCare Team up to Provide Filled Care Bags to State Flood Victims; Need Your Help
By Julie Perine on June 30, 2016 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
The Meadowbrook Mall and UniCare are teaming up to provide care bags filled with flood relief items to West Virginia families who have been impacted by last week's devastating floods.
“After speaking with a family who has been directly affected from the floods, we learned that duffle bags or backpacks with personal 
care items would be extremely appreciated and well received,” said Marketing Director Robin Urquhart. “So we’re doing just that.”
care items would be extremely appreciated and well received,” said Marketing Director Robin Urquhart. “So we’re doing just that.”
The mall is providing the duffle bags and community members are asked to consider donations of personal care items to fill the bags. The first round of care bags will be delivered to flood victims the week of July 4 and the collection/assembly process will continue throughout the month of July with interim deliveries, Urquhart said.
“We will begin filling the first round of bags – with the help of volunteers – during our July 5 Tuesday is for Toddlers event, 11 a.m. at Sears Court,” she said. “We’re actually going to make a social learning event out of stuffing the bags.”
Donations can be delivered through the end of July at the mall office across from the public restroom between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. or at the security desk at the main Food Court entrance after office hours.
Items needed are:
· Brush and comb
· Toothpaste and toothbrushes
· Deodorant
· Lip balm
· Baby wipes
· Razors/shaving cream
· Sunscreen
· Hand sanitizer
· Insect repellant spray
· Feminine products
Huntington Mall is hosting the same flood relief project. It was a phone call from the Huntington Mall Marketing Director Margi MacDuff that set the wheels in motion, Urquhart said.
“Margi told me that her sister had lost everything in the flood. I guess she lived on the same street as that infamous burning house that everyone watched float down the river,” said Urquhart about the home engulfed with flames, captured on video as it swept down Howard Creek in White Sulphur Springs. “Her sister said that what they could really use were some backpacks or bags to carry stuff in as they traveled from place to place to spend the night. She also said that toiletries were desperately needed.”
UniCare partners with both Meadowbrook Mall and Huntington Mall in connection with children’s programs.
"When we approached them about putting their name on the donation drive, they said they had been sending their own personal donations already, but they wanted to get involved in a bigger way," Urquhart said.
For additional details contact the mall office at 304-842-5441 ext 12.
The Meadowbrook Mall complex is located off Interstate 79, Exit 121 in Bridgeport.
