Members of Hillsboro United Methodist Church brightened the evening for Jefferson College students who live in the Viking Woods Student Housing on Oct. 5, when they delivered care packages to each room.
Church members wanted to provide students at the Hillsboro campus housing with items they could use during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Rev. Harold Long, the church pastor.
“The basic idea was to fulfill the commandment, ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself,’” he said. “The pandemic inspired it. The idea got into the heart of one of our members and we got together and thought it was a great idea and did it.”
He said 10 members of the congregation delivered care packages to 41 dorm rooms.
“The 41 boxes went to 149 students living in the dorm rooms,” Long said. “The packages contained a lot of snacks and other foods, gift cards, coupons to redeem at fast food restaurants and one handmade mask for each student. There also were letters of encouragement for each student.”
The boxes also contained cleaning and laundry supplies and toilet paper.
He said students were surprised to receive the care packages.
“The guys (from Hillsboro United Methodist Church) went to the guys’ dorm rooms and the ladies went to the ladies’ dorm rooms to give out the boxes,” Long said.
“I think we saw somebody at every dorm room but two. Boxes were left at those two.”
He said the students enjoyed the gifts. “It was a blast,” Long said.
Alanna Crumley, a freshman from St. Peters who plays on the Lady Vikings basketball team, said the gesture was greatly appreciated.
“We were actually really excited because it (was) mid-terms week and we were studying,” Crumley said. “We’re college students, so we’re always hungry. There was so much food. We loved it. We just want to say thanks to the church for doing this.”
Long said his church members likely will distribute care packages to students again sometime.
“It was a big hit,” he said.