Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center Domestic Violence Victim Advocate Kim Peggs pets six-year-old Bijou, a Miniature American Shepherd, who came in to drop off a donation on Sunday. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The first of a two-weekend donation event was held in Evolve on Saturday and Sunday.

Organized by Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center (EPEC) Domestic Violence Victim Advocate for Jefferson County Kim Peggs, Unity in Community was created to allow community members to drop off or pick up donations, if they need them to make it through the winter.

“We got a couple of people who have come in so far,” said EPEC Community Coordinator Brittany Bush on Sunday afternoon. “Next weekend, we will repeat this in Charles Town at the Corner Connection — Saturday is drop off and Sunday is pick up.”

Items requested for donation included tents, sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, boots, HotHands Warmers, hats, scarves, gloves, warm jackets, underwear, socks, thermal wear, water bottles, hygiene products, backpacks, granola and protein bars, grocery store gift cards and cellphone minute cards for TracFone, Net10 and Straight Talk.

“Anything that we end up not being able to give out, we’re going to divvy up with Jefferson County Community Ministries and our outreach offices and shelter,” Bush said.

While this past weekend’s attendance may not have been as high as had been anticipated, Peggs said that was likely due to the newness of the event.

“Hopefully we will do it more often in the future, maybe in the spring,” Peggs said. “We are trying to reach the unhoused population and the homeless population in Jefferson County, but this is really for anyone who needs an extra helping hands — warm clothes, specifically, because we know it’s pretty cold out.”

Originally, the plan had been to hold the first Unity in Community weekend before Christmas. But Peggs had to postpone the event, due to an increase in work related to the holiday season. That postponement, however, allowed the first weekend to take place when the donations would be most needed, as the weather began a descent into freezing temperatures over the following days.

“Even if only one person had come, it would have been worth it,” Peggs said. “It’s worth doing again, regardless of the outcome. Charles Town definitely has a larger homeless population than Shepherdstown does, but there are some homeless people here who need items like these to survive.”

Peggs voiced her appreciation for all of those who made the first Unity in Community weekend possible.

“Evolve gave us this space for free, which was really awesome! Hopefully we can work again with them, not even just with this event, but maybe with some other creative stuff to raise money or reach out to the community,” Peggs said, noting EPEC provides support for victims and survivors of domestic violence, hate crimes, human trafficking, sexual assault and stalking. “All of this that you see was from people in the community. We’re just grateful for any of it, honestly.”

Those wishing to participate in this coming weekend’s Unity in Community donation drop off on Saturday, should visit Corner Connection at 119 East Washington Street in Charles Town, from 1-4 p.m. Those wishing to pick up some items should come to the same location on Sunday, from 1-4 p.m.

To learn more about the nonprofit, EPEC, visit https://epecwv.org/.