Prevention Empowerment Partnership (PEP) seeking donations for its 3rd annual Holiday Card Project

The Prevention Empowerment Partnership (PEP) is seeking monetary donations from the local community in hopes of reaching their goal of raising $2,100 to support the efforts and goals of their 3^rd annual Holiday Card Project. The Holiday Card Project focuses on 75-100 Cabell County youth of middle school and high school age, who are often left out of typical community-giving events, and over 400 Cabell County seniors who are in nursing homes or homebound.

Over the past several weeks, PEP has distributed card-making supplies to local community partners who have identified youth to make cards for the seniors. Additionally, PEP staff and volunteers have held numerous card-making workshops at local community centers.

PEP is hoping to purchase 100 $20 gift cards and four $25 gift cards for youth. The goal is to provide a $20 gift card to each youth who creates at least four cards. The holiday cards will all be entered into a competition for the top four cards in categories including most creative, best design, most sincere and best card overall. The four winners will receive a $25 gift card.

“This project is important to our community and our youth because it allows youth to give back, while also allowing them to receive a gift of appreciation,” Angela Saunders, director of PEP, said. “Our youth and their contributions are valued, and your gift can help us demonstrate that to them. This isn’t a grant-funded project; this is a community project that will benefit two vulnerable populations, our seniors and youth.”

PEP is a collaborative committee of community-based organizations and community leaders, under the financial umbrella of the Marshall University Research Corporation, that partner to increase access to prevention services for youth and families in Cabell County and throughout the state of West Virginia, where appropriate. Through its partnerships, subcommittees and workgroups, PEP provides technical assistance, capacity building, community outreach, evaluation and training for all types of prevention to empower youth to deal with the drug crisis and effect positive change in their communities.

To donate by mail,  a check can be mailed to PEP, attention: Angela Saunders, Marshall University Applied Engineering Complex, One John Marshall Dr., Huntington, WV 25755. Please make checks payable to The Marshall University Foundation, Inc. (you MUST put “PEP Fund 218106” on the memo line). To donate in person, please call Saunders at 304-552-3528 or utilize PEP’s secure drop box at Marshall’s Memorial Student Center.

For any questions, please e-mail Saunders at saundersa@marshall.edu.

To learn more about PEP, visit pepwv.org.