Fresh Boyz equip families in need

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, April 1, 2020

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The Fresh Boyz Club recently finished gathering and delivering care packages that prepped 19 Prince Edward County families in need for two weeks of being in quarantine amid efforts to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The care packages, featuring contributions from various community groups, were full of non-perishable items, bread and cereal. They also contained microwaveable dinners, milk and sandwich meat.

“Glad to see our community rally in times of need and uplift each other,” Fresh Boyz Club President and Founder Louis C. Gould III said. “(I’m) super proud of these boys and glad to call them my brothers.”

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Gould said that when schools started closing down due to the spread of COVID-19, the boys in the club wanted to do something because they knew a lot of students look forward to the lunch and breakfast that the school provided on a Monday-Friday basis.

He said the club helped arrange for students to have breakfast and lunch Monday, March 16, and Tuesday, March 17.

“Because the school started providing it Wednesday, we took it to a new level and then started sponsoring actual families on Wednesday through Friday of that week,” Gould said.

He noted the club put out a flyer asking that if there were any families in need during this time, they should reach out to the club.

“And we had 19 families reach out,” he said.

The Fresh Boyz Club and the younger Fresh Boyz Juniors helped community groups to gather care packages for those 19 families, and then the boys delivered the packages March 18-20.

Gould offered thanks to the Farmville Lions Club, The Farmville Jaycees, Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Farmville and Alanna Rivera for their support and donations to ensure the club’s mission was completed successfully.

“Thank you also to all who donated, shared a post and everyone who played a part in making our vision come true,” Gould said. “Without your help none of this could be possible.”

Gould said the mission of Fresh Boyz is the betterment of the individual, providing community service and leadership and boosting the individual’s personal integrity as a member of the group and society.

The Fresh Boyz Club recruits members ages 8-18. Fresh Boyz Juniors features second- through fifth-graders, and the youngest members of the Fresh Boyz Club are in ninth grade.