Taylor and Parker Campbell with the final count of food donations for the WV Children’s Home Society.
The Birthday Brigade has come to a very successful end! After asking what they wanted for their birthdays, Pickering Associates’ valued team member, Zac Campbell’s daughters responded that they didn’t want any kids to be hungry. This sweet sentiment began what would become a community and state-wide donation network to provide food items for the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia Food Pantry in Parkersburg, W.Va. Pickering, along with many community organizations helped to make this little dream a reality. Some of the businesses and community members that joined our efforts were the Parkersburg Jaycees, Williamstown Elementary School, Fairlawn Baptist, Stout Memorial, Peoples Bank, Vienna Senior Center, Eye Doctors of Vienna, and Zenergy of Belpre and Vienna, as well as various schools and businesses from Wheeling to Randolph County, West Virginia. Together, we were able to donate over six vehicles full of food and goods. The Birthday Brigade was able to collect a variety of items, from juice boxes to can food items, and even baby supplies.
Other members in the community heard the Campbell family’s call to action and made contributions to the Home Society as well. DuPont made a generous donation of 16 new bicycles to the Home Society which quickly found deserving homes. The Campbell family delivered the goods on February 21st, and their daughters had a blast helping to deliver the last load. The Pantry at the time of the donation was half full. The drive was able to not only fully stock the pantry but create a surplus for several items.
Pickering was honored to be a part of this donation network. It was exciting to take an idea from two sweet little girls and turn it into a community effort. When asked what the goal for this project is in the long term, Mr. Campbell replied, “This is the first of an annual effort. The five-year goal is to be nearly statewide, and that the drive can fill all 7 of the Home Society’s Pantries and help benefit the nearly 7,200 children who are in need.” What a fantastic way to spend your Birthday. The Campbell girls’ efforts and dream have left a lasting impression on the hearts of thousands. The Birthday Brigade indeed demonstrates that no idea is too small to make a difference in the lives of others! Congratulations to the Campbell Family on their incredible efforts, we look forward to watching this drive grow and thrive in our community!