BECKLEY, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – On Wednesday, October 20, one of Raleigh County’s Blessing Boxes was vandalized.
The box, located on Third Avenue, is sponsored by Beckley Pride and was recently decorated as part of a competition hosted by the Raleigh County Convention Coalition. Beckley Pride’s box won third place in the competition.
According to Stephanie French, Blessing Box Coordinator for the Raleigh County Prevention Coalition, the vandalizers covered the box in black paint.
“It was a gorgeous box,” French said. “It is truly heartbreaking because we do these boxes for the less fortunate and for the homeless people and those suffering drug addiction. We do it to help our community and beautify our community. They’re not just plain, wooden boxes. It makes them stand out more, and it’s truly shameful that someone would have that kind of hate in their heart to do that. We are supposed to stand as one for our community.”
French says a police report has been filed with the Beckley Police Department. Beckley Pride is asking that anyone with any information on who could have vandalized the box contact them.
The Beckley Women’s Club and Shade Tree Car Club have each donated money to help Beckley Pride purchase more supplies so that their box can be repainted.