Grow Warwood Pride, the Ohio County Family Resource Network, and UniCare Health Plan are proud to unveil a Blessing Box in the Warwood Community. The Blessing Box ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on April 14, 2021, at 10 a.m. in Garden Park, along Warwood Avenue and Viking Drive.

A Blessing Box is a community-driven initiative that provides access to essential items to those in need. Those who need items in the box are welcome to take things as needed and those who can donate are encouraged to do so. The Blessing Box is always available, providing access when it’s convenient for the recipient or donor. The Blessing Box will contain personal hygiene items, seasonal items like sunscreen or blankets, household essentials, educational handouts, and shelf-stable food.

“We recognize the pandemic has deeply impacted our community and we are lucky enough to form a partnership with UniCare Health Plan to create a way to provide access to basic, necessary items to help ease the burden for our neighbors and friends,” said Grow Warwood Pride President Julie Davis. “The Blessing Box is a natural extension of already existing programs that we’ve continued to provide for our community to ensure people have the resources to live a healthier life.”

“The Blessing Box is part of UniCare’s commitment to the whole health of individuals and families to address and close gaps in care in some of the most vulnerable communities,” said Tadd Haynes, plan president, UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia. “As part of our commitment to addressing the social drivers of health, UniCare has joined with Grow Warwood Pride to provide solutions for the community that lead to healthy, productive lifestyles.”

Grow Warwood Pride is a grassroots community organization dedicated to improving our neighborhood through advocacy, community involvement, education, volunteerism, fundraising, and safety. Founded in 2016 and recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2018, Grow Warwood Pride focuses on community empowerment, citizen engagement, and improving the quality of life for the greater Warwood area. Community events are volunteer driven.

UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia, Inc. serves more than 180,000 Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries living in West Virginia. UniCare has served Medicaid beneficiaries in West Virginia since 2003 and WVCHIP members in 2021. For more information about UniCare, visit unicare.com/wv and follow the company on Facebook @UniCareWV and Twitter @UniCareWV.