West Virginia Press Association
PHILIPPI, W.Va. – Barbour Community Health Association (BCHA) has announced the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Store, a new initiative aimed at providing Philip Barbour High School (PBHS) students with free clothing, gifts, and other necessary essentials. The ceremony will take place on August 28, 2024, at the Brandon Wellness Center, located at Philip Barbour High School at 99 Horseshoe Drive, Philippi.
The ribbon-cutting event will begin at 11:30 a.m., featuring key attendees including Mr. Antion, Principal of Philip Barbour High School, Paula Daniels, Barbour County’s dedicated Communities in Schools representative, and members of the BCHA and PBHS staff. Additionally, an open invitation is also extended to frequent student shoppers, community members, and media.
The idea for The Store originated a few years ago when students visiting Brandon Wellness Center frequently needed clothing assistance. Initially, extra clothing items were stored in bags, which required sorting to find suitable and properly sized apparel. Over time, adjustments were made to improve convenience and offer students more options. Last year, BCHA collaborated with PBHS’s school administration to transform a classroom into a dedicated space for The Store, thanks to the support of Mr. Antion and other school staff.
The Store provides a unique shopping experience where students can “purchase” items for free, fostering a sense of normalcy and dignity. This initiative gained significant traction last Christmas when students enjoyed selecting gifts for their families, creating a heartwarming experience for everyone involved, including the BCHA staff, the school administration and employees, and families of students.
BCHA has established regular store hours during lunch periods, ensuring no disruption to class instruction time. The Store operates in compliance with school policies, and special permission is granted during finals week or class tournaments to accommodate special extended hours.
Community involvement has been vital to the success of The Store. All items are donated by generous members of the Barbour County community, supporting high school students with essentials such as new or gently used clothing, coats, hats, gloves, socks, new underwear, shoes, jewelry, makeup, stuffed animals, school supplies, hygiene products, and more. The Store also accepts non-perishable food items like microwavable dishes.
The Store is currently seeking additional volunteers and donations. If you are interested in supporting The Store, either through volunteering or by donating items such as clothes mannequins, shelves, display cases, or hanging racks, please contact the Brandon Wellness Center at 304.457.4000.
BCHA extends gratitude to Paula Daniels, whose efforts have been crucial in advancing The Store, and to the members of the Philippi Mennonite Church for their assistance in building shelves and hanging rods, enhancing the shopping experience for PBHS students.
Please join BCHA on August 28 to celebrate this remarkable milestone. Together, we can continue to make a positive impact on the lives of our students and community.
Contact:
Brandon Wellness Center
Barbour Community Health Association
Phone: 304.457.4000
Email: [email protected]