Local intern launches Tri Valley —Blessing Bags project to support Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless

An intern who works in the treasurer——'s office told the Sullivan County Legislature he has launched the Tri Valley Volunteering Club's "Blessing Bags Project," a community collection effort to assemble toiletry and food kits for people experiencing homelessness.

"What I'm doing is I've put collection boxes all around ... the government center and the treasurer's office," the intern, Chris, told the legislature. He said boxes are also at local businesses and municipal locations in the Tri Valley area. The collected items include canned and nonperishable foods, toiletries and health supplies. The assembled bags will be donated to the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless and the club will volunteer at the federation to distribute them.

The treasurer, Nancy Buck, introduced the interns and praised the program and staff who help place interns across county offices. She told the body the treasurer's office would support the intern's project and suggested leaving flyers on the front table for public distribution.

Plans and participation

Chris said the Tri Valley Volunteering Club expects to run small field trips to the federation about four times during the school year, with a first trip targeted for September. He invited members of the public and local businesses to donate, volunteer or help spread the word and said he had already collected a significant number of donations.

Discussion status

The presentation occurred during the treasurer——'s item on staff and interns and was informational; no county appropriation or formal action was recorded in the transcript regarding the project.

Ending

Legislators and attendees offered praise for the initiative; the treasurer called it a "pet project" for the intern and thanked him for his work.