Project Blessing, a joint venture between O’Neal School and Harvest of Hope, is gathering donations from families across the county. The donated items will go to 454 Harvest-sponsored families in our area who do not qualify for government assistance.
“Basically, O’Neal families have been asked to look in their attics, garage, basement, and any storage facilities they might have to locate absolutely anything that they might normally donate to the need or put in a yard sale,” says Missy Quis, admissions director for the school.
Project Blessing was the brainchild of Trippy Dyer, the mother of an O’Neal student.
“I have three girls, and last February, I decided to go through their clothes, and separate the items they couldn’t wear anymore,” she says. “When I was done, I had 12 piles, about 18 inches tall, lined down the hallway. I asked myself, ‘What am I going to do with this? Sell it on Ebay? Give it all away?’ I just got down on my knees and prayed to God for an answer.”
Her answer came in May, when she was shopping at a local thrift store.
“I was buying costumes for my daughter’s school play, when I rounded the corner, and saw a young mother with her baby. They were both going through clothing, and I thought to myself, ‘I wish I could let you go through my things.’” Armed with an idea, Dyer began searching for ways to implement it.
After consulting with several organizations, Dyer found an ally in Harvest of Hope.
Dyer initially aimed to gather materials for 30 families. But after receiving help from other O’Neal families, they have enough donated material to accommodate more then 100 families. A storage shed on Airport Road was rented to place the overflow of materials, but it too is close to maximum capacity. Project Blessing is still more then willing to accept any items that could be donated, however.
The school has provided a drop-off point for all donations, which is open during regular school hours. Items such as winter clothing, car seats, high chairs, furniture, kitchenware, bicycles and children’s toys have been received so far. Starting this month, the group will be starting a major dry goods food drive. Donations will be moved to a warehouse in Robbins on Friday, Nov. 7, and the families will receive the items the next day, Saturday Nov. 8.
For more information, call Missy Quis, admissions director for the O’Neal School, at (910) 692-6920 Ext. 103.
Charles Nicoletti, a student at Sandhills Community College, is an intern at The Pilot.
