Earlier this year, the Southeastern Carpenters unexpectedly lost a cherished brother, Adam Bledsoe, who was the Training Coordinator of the Augusta Carpenters Training Center.  But Brittany Bledsoe, Adam’s widow, has continued to carry forward Adam’s passion for helping others, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brittany, a nursing student at Augusta University, recognized the need for community service in the Central Savannah River Area as the pandemic spread. People were panic buying food and supplies, and bought more than they needed while countless others went without the necessary products to keep themselves and their families safe. Grocery and retail stores were empty. Cleaning supplies becoming more and more scarce.

Brittany saw the need to help and started an organization called Resources for the At-Risk, a non-profit that helps those who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19.  She and her fellow nursing students sought donations from the community. She also worked with distributors and local businesses to get supplies and put the word out on social media. Multiple businesses lent a helping hand.

Carpenters Local 283 twice provided a $1,000 donation

Restaurants gave gift cards for curbside pickup

Businesses and individuals provided cash donations

As a result, Brittany and her friends were able to provide hundreds of care packages to those in need. The care packages include nine rolls of toilet paper, a roll of paper towels, a viridical cleaning product, a box of nitrile gloves, a 3-ounce bottle of hand sanitizer, and a gift card to a local restaurant. Additionally, Resources for the At-Risk gave out 60 packs at a local Kroger, which included face masks and hand sanitizer.

“The Southeastern Carpenters could not be prouder of Brittany and all the volunteers of Resources for the At-Risk for taking on this challenge,” said Southeastern Carpenters’ EST, Tom Jenkins. “She honors Adam’s memory very well by continually reaching out during this crisis, just as he would’ve done. On behalf of the SECRC, we thank Brittany for all that she is accomplishing.”

Learn more about this amazing program by visiting the organization’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/resourcesforatriskAU/

The effort also caught the attention of the local news media:

https://www.wjbf.com/csra-news/local-nursing-students-giveaway-medical-supplies-for-free/?fbclid=IwAR20oLA5XvIc6V9Z0lec92zfdy7tlsN19L0r3IymAiVRYbPoYLQJc9ZnbzA

and

https://jagwire.augusta.edu/college-of-nursing-students-serve-community-during-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR20oLA5XvIc6V9Z0lec92zfdy7tlsN19L0r3IymAiVRYbPoYLQJc9ZnbzA