The first snowfall of the season hit our area on Saturday, not the best timing for some non-profit groups at the first annual “Project Give” at the Roanoke Civic Center.
The community project benefited four non-profit groups including Habitat for Humanity, Second Harvest Food Bank, Roanoke Valley SPCA, and Goodwill Industries of the Valleys.
"I can say quite frankly, I've never been as cold as I was yesterday in the snow and the rain, but we had some awesome donors come out and help us,” said Betsy Whitney, Deputy Director at Habitat.
The goal was for donors to drop off supplies at the civic center, like a one-stop-drop for the organizations.
"Our original goal was 400 people. We had to reduce that a bit once the weather hit, but we ended up with 72,” Whitney said.
Low numbers, but Jeremy Butterfield with the Second Harvest Food Bank remained positive. He said they received a couple hundred pounds of food on Saturday.
"That's great for us. That's a couple hundred that we didn't have before,” he said.
Those in need are growing in number. Habitat for Humanity workers say there are three projects going on in Hurt Park, and the waiting list gets longer.
Whitney says they hope anybody who didn't bring by items on Saturday will bring them in the next week, but right now, they're letting everybody know they need help in the coming weeks, writing e-mail pleas and letters of appeal.
"If you're getting a new set of living room furniture for Christmas, please think of Habitat when you tear down your kitchen cabinets or you're donating your old furniture,” Whitney said.
As Christmas gets closer, the weather gets colder.
"They're trying to pay for those heating bills, but also pay for those grocery bills. We see an increased need but we also see a response to that with the people,” said Butterfield.
In hopes the community will continue to give to help those in need.
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