Audrey Wroe makes a difference through donation drives

Hancock County High School senior Audrey Wroe, 18, is volunteering her time to collect much-needed clothing for local nonprofits, including Borrowed Hearts Owensboro.

“I like being able to make a difference,” Wroe said. “I started collecting items last week. I heard about Borrowed Hearts because I used to be in foster care and they provide for foster care. I’m also donating items to the women’s shelter in Owensboro, and really any shelter in Owensboro, and the items I think would belong best at each.”

Wroe wants to be an elementary school teacher and plans to attend Western Kentucky University (WKU) after graduation.

“As a teacher, I’d like for that to turn into me being able to recognize when a child needs something — interacting with children first hand who need donations and being able to help with that,” she said.

Wroe is currently participating in work-based learning at North Hancock Elementary School and interns every morning with the kindergarten classrooms.

“After high school, I plan to move to Bowling Green to attend WKU, and I would like to continue this effort in Bowling Green,” she said. “I’d like it to grow, and could eventually add more than collecting and donating clothes. I could maybe pick up groceries and bring them to people who can’t do that for themselves.”

The project is a partnership between Wroe and Renae Pierrard, maintenance planner and scheduler at Domtar in Hawesville. They have carried out much of the work themselves.

Wroe said the idea started as a simple conversation during the holidays about cleaning out closets after receiving new clothes. They recognized that many people, especially those working long hours, seldom find time to make the trip to Owensboro to donate what they no longer need.

“We thought it would be a good idea for me to be a designated person for that and to make sure they go to places that can really benefit by receiving them,” Wroe said. “Clothes are really the main focus. We are donating clothes to people who just got out of rehab, for example, or to people who just fostered a child.”

In addition to supporting Borrowed Hearts, they are also collecting and delivering donations to several other organizations, including St. Benedict’s Homeless Shelter, Fresh Start for Women and a mobile outreach program in Owensboro called Just People, started by Dave Fogle, owner of Computer Dave PC Repair.

Wroe said she hopes the project inspires others to donate or help transport items to those in need.

The two have already collected a growing number of contributions from residents in Hancock County and nearby communities, including Owensboro. With so many items coming in, they said the van was filled to capacity on a recent delivery, and continuing to transport everything may soon become a challenge.

They’ve been spreading the word primarily through Pierrard’s Facebook page, where community members have helped share posts to reach more people. Wroe said she plans to create a dedicated Facebook page for the mission to organize updates and donations more easily.

She has spoken with Lacey Mosby, family resource coordinator at North Hancock Elementary School, and plans to meet with Laura Kessans, family resource youth services coordinator at Hancock County Middle and High School. Wroe hopes partnering with the schools will help spread the word through newsletters and connect donated items with families in need.

Those who would like to contribute or volunteer can contact Renae Pierrard through her Facebook page or by calling or texting 270-922-7874. Aubrey Wroe can also be reached at 270-922-8929.

Borrowed Hearts is a nonprofit that supports foster families in Hancock, Ohio, Daviess and McLean counties, as well as in Santa Claus, Indiana, by providing clothing, shoes, hygiene items, diapers, formula and toys. The Owensboro location is at 1705 W. Second St. Contact the organization at 270-645-7835, [email protected] or borrowedheartsobky.org.

St. Benedict’s Homeless Shelter, a Christian nonprofit that provides shelter and social support services without judgment, is at 1001 W. Seventh St. in Owensboro. More information is available at stbenedictsowensboro.org.

To learn more about the Just People outreach program, visit computerdavepcrepair.com and click on “Community Outreach” at the top of the page. Donations may be dropped off at Computer Dave PC Repair, 5010 Wildcat Way, Suite 3, Owensboro, KY 42303, or shipped directly to the same address.

Fresh Start for Women offers safe, affordable transitional housing for women who have completed addiction recovery programs or are rebuilding their lives after other challenges. For more information, visit freshstartforwomenowensboro.org, call 270-240-3180 or email [email protected].