BUCKHANNON – Central WV Aging Services recently partnered with Buckhannon-Upshur High School FFA members to build Thanksgiving boxes for clients this holiday season.

As a member of a leadership organization such as Future Farmers of America, also known as FFA, members are required to perform community service hours to fulfill their respective Chapter, State and American Degrees. With the organization motto, “Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve”, students are encouraged to step up and serve their community through a variety of channels; Valentine’s Day cards, Thanksgiving boxes, food drives, clothing drives, among other initiatives.

Last year, Upshur FFA hosted a hat and glove drive for the clients of Central WV Aging Services. This year, 25 complete Thanksgiving meal boxes were delivered to clients of Central WV Aging Services.

Meal items were collected by FFA members and their advisors. Each student that donated an item was awarded one hour of service in exchange for their item(s). The donation of frozen chickens from Upshur FFA added a protein option to the already full boxes.

Staff of Central WV Aging Services are very appreciative for this continued partnership.

“It’s a wonderful program they have there [at Upshur FFA],” said Tammy Leggett of Central WV Aging Services. “We certainly appreciate all that they do.”

Buckhannon-Upshur High School Agriculture teachers and FFA advisors Allyson Lewis, Cole Payne and Jessica Snyder were proud to witness their students’ passion in aiding their community members during this season of thanks.

“It’s really cool to see [our students] do things right here in our community, right here in town,” said Cole Payne, agriculture teacher at B-UHS and Upshur FFA advisor. “It’s really good for the students to see things that they may not be aware of [in the community]. It’s good as the advisor to see the kids want to help and they want to partake in that.”

When these boxes were delivered to clients, Leggett told My Buckhannon that a few thankful tears were shed from their clients for the gift of these meal boxes this Thanksgiving holiday.

Visit the Central WV Aging Services website or call 304-472-0395 to learn more about services offered there. Follow Upshur FFA Alumni & Supporters on Facebook to keep up to date with Upshur FFA members and projects.