Back-to-school bash helps children in Montcalm community

MONTCALM, WV (WVNS) — The children of the Montcalm area were given backpacks, socks, and shoes at the Montcalm volunteer fire station, thanks to one organization’s generosity.

Freedom Connections Outreach is a North Carolina based outreach church.

So, you may be wondering why they were hosting a back-to-school bash in Montcalm, West Virginia. That is all thanks to Sean Campion, owner of Pierce Place Hot Dog stand on the Hatfield and McCoy Trail system.

He comes all the way up from North Carolina to serve good food and good music to the ATV-ers using the trails.

He wanted to give back to the community that has been so welcoming to him, so he reached out to his friend, Andy Zeggert, for some ideas.

“Invited Lisa and I to come up and see what they do and… And we did and Sean talked about how he would like to give back to the community. So, that’s how it really started is, you know, Sean had this vision to do what we do.” said Zeggert.

And the  Zeggerts are all about outreach.

Andy and his wife, Lisa, have been spreading their outreach programs throughout the Appalachian mountains for the past 17 years.

Lisa Zeggert said they were glad for the turnout they have had so far for this outreach.

“About 50 come through. And, you know, we’ve had lots of children, some, mostly elementary, but some also middle-high school, and we also had some backpacks for them as well that we had in Tennessee. We had some of those left over and we wanted to make sure we had enough for this area as well.” said Lisa Zeggert.

Children were invited to take a pair of shoes and some socks, as well as a backpack.

The children and their parents were also treated to a free hotdog courtesy of Campion’s Pierce Place Hot Dog Stand.

Campion said his idea stemmed from working at his hot dog stand and being treated so well by the locals he was around.

“My business is here on the weekends, and I ride and I just wanted to give back to this town first. We’re gonna start in this out and then we’re gonna try to filter out.” said Campion.

Campion said he hopes this bash helps the community that he has grown so fond of and that he would like to do more in the future.

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