Join Us to Help WNC with Blessing Boxes

Kidding Around Greenville is joining with Mom to Mom to organize a holiday relief effort for Western NC.

Our Focus Area

Henderson County, NC. The northern and eastern sections of the county were severely damaged in Hurricane Helene. The schools on US Highway 64 are home to many students that come from the towns of Bat Cave, Gerton, Chimney Rock, and Edneyville. This area had major destruction.

The Need

Henderson County Schools normally partners with The Storehouse – a local non-profit – to provide “Blessings in Boxes” to students in need. These are boxes filled with the childrens’ needs and wants. The lists come directly from parents, who fill out a form for each child. 

In 2023, they serviced 702 families equaling 2,005 kids. This year, due to the impacts of Helene, they have over 975 families with likely over 3,000 kids (they are still inputting data this week).

Their usual sponsors are businesses and individuals from Henderson County. However, because everyone in their local area was impacted in one way or another, the needs are great and the helpers are few.

US Highway 64 conditions in early November 2024

Our Goal

Depending on the level of support from our community, we hope to sponsor two schools on US Highway 64: North Henderson High School and Apple Valley Middle School. Together, they have about 400 students in need. 

We’re working directly with Henderson County Schools for this project. We have direct contact with the central office, administrators at each of the schools, as well as staff at The Storehouse, who is taking on the logistics in Hendersonville, NC.

What We Need

We need businesses and community groups to sponsor groups of kids. Team members will purchase gifts listed on a specific ticket given by the parents of each child. Items include needs like clothing and accessories as well as wants like toys and entertainment.

Requirements

Team Requirements

• To be associated with a business or community group (church, book club, neighborhood, athletic team, school, PTA, etc)
• A team leader to act as the point person working with Kidding Around Greenville & Mom to Mom
• A commitment to sponsor at least 5 children

Team Leader Requirements

• Pick up empty boxes and gift information on Saturday, November 16 in Greenville, SC
• Ensure that all gifts for each child fit in the boxes given 
• Drop off all the filled boxes on Saturday or Sunday, December 7 and 8 in Greenville, SC

Pick Up & Drop Off Location

TBD, somewhere central in Greenville, SC

Other Ways to Participate

If you’re outside the area, shop our two Amazon wish lists (10 children each). M2M has taken 20 children just for this purpose. We’ve added specific items that are included on the lists we’ve received. It also includes common gift cards that we can use to locally purchase items. 

Each gift item will disappear when purchased and has quantities listed. If it’s still on the list, it’s still a need.

FAQs

Q: How much should I spend?

A: There is no minimum or maximum amount. We think that $50-$150 would be an approximate amount that would cover the gifts asked for by most parents. (No electronics are allowed and a child can only ask for a bicycle every three years in this program).

Q: What kind of things do kids ask for?

A: Clothes, coats, socks and shoes, toys, entertainment, etc.

Q: When will the gifts be delivered to parents?

A: Pick up dates for parents in Hendersonville, NC take place December 13 and 14. We will be delivering items to Hendersonville before that.

Key Dates

Tentative Schedule:

Saturday, November 16: pick up materials for sponsor children

Saturday & Sunday, December 7 and 8: drop off filled boxes

Volunteer Opportunities

If you’re local to Greenville and would like to volunteer with us, please fill out this interest form and we’ll let you know of upcoming opportunities. 

Volunteer Interest Form

Questions?

Email NCmom2mom@gmail.com.