United Way, Ball Toyota Donate $4,000 in Supplies for Marshall County Students

The promise that students wouldn't have to go without led to an emotional day Wednesday morning at McNinch Primary School.

The United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley donated more than $4,000 worth of clothes, hygiene items, and other essentials to Marshall County Schools, through a partnership with Ball Toyota in southern West Virginia, which made donations across the state. Jessica Rine, Executive Director of the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, was on hand at McNinch to hand off the boxes of donations.

Donations included socks, underwear, shirts, sweatpants, hoodies, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes and feminine products.

Susie Baker, representing Marshall County Schools, was in high spirits Wednesday.

"It means everything," she said. "We have at least 168 kids here who need help for Christmas. I'm almost about to cry. I can't tell you what a relief these things are, that I would not have been able to buy for those families. These are going to be extras in their stockings, extras from Santa. It's the best thing that could happen."

Among the donated items, Baker said the sweatshirts and pants were what she was most excited to be able to give students. During the winter months, Baker said, many families go without heat in their homes to keep expenses down, and warm clothes can double as sleepwear that helps keep families warm.

"It's hard to find things like sweats. It's almost Christmas; stores will have their summer stuff out. You're going to have a hard time getting sweatpants, sweatshirts, and winter things. And (the students), they're cold. I love that they gave us sweats, because they can also sleep in them instead of pajamas. A lot of times, they don't have heat in their house, they have it down real low, thinking it's going to help with bills."

Rine said the donations aim to fix a need that persists year round.

"The need is all year long. These items are ones that can sustain children, kids and teenagers all year long, like hoodies for the kid that comes in without a coat, or hygiene items as the families need them," Rine said. "… The generosity from Ball Toyota to give money to every single county shows that the need is there, and they support not just the children in their area, but throughout the whole state. We're so excited to be able to give this to Marshall County."