Woman spearheads effort to create care packages to the homeless

Sheila Davis is making the world a better place, one person at a time.

“I’m putting out a lot of love, a lot of good vibes, and spreading it through the community,” the Mountain Falls resident said on Monday morning. “I’m just grateful to do what I do.”

Davis maintains a sunny, optimistic disposition despite some severe setbacks she has experienced in her life. Much of her childhood was spent at the Henry and William Evans Home for Children in Winchester, which takes in kids from families facing a financial, medical or legal crisis. Later, as an adult, a chronic health condition knocked Davis out of the workforce and largely restricted her to her home in Mountain Falls.

Since Davis has never had an easy go of things, it wouldn’t be surprising if she held a certain degree of bitterness. But that’s not her, not at all, because she prefers to help her neighbors in need.

Davis first started doing things for the homeless many years ago; she continues to help the less fortunate as a tribute to the many people who have helped her, especially former Evans Home Executive Director Kirby Lloyd, who ran the nonprofit from 1978 to 1999. Lloyd, a Star Tannery resident who died in 2013, taught Davis the importance of community and helping others, and it’s a lesson she took to heart.

Davis seeks out people and organizations in need and recruits cadres of area residents who share her passion to serve. Together, they collect or donate items that are delivered to local nonprofit agencies that serve the homeless, including the Congregational Community Action Project (CCAP), Winchester Area Temporary Transitional Shelter (WATTS), Winchester Rescue Mission and Family Promise Northern Shenandoah Valley.

“The more we work together, the better things are going to be,” Davis said.

Thanks to the community’s generosity last year, Davis and her friends were able to assemble 328 care packages for the homeless. Each package contained hats, gloves, toiletries, toothbrushes, bandages, and hand and foot warmers.

This year, Davis wants to up the ante by assembling 400 care packages — 200 for WATTS, plus another 200 for shelter and support programs in Front Royal — to help the Northern Shenandoah Valley’s growing homeless population.

Davis is currently seeking donations for this year’s packages. She especially needs hand and foot warmers for people who can’t escape the cold.

“Packing will be one day during the first week of December,” Davis said. “That’s when we should have enough items to do 400 care kits.”

Beyond providing immediate assistance to people experiencing homelessness, Davis said she hopes her care packages and other community service efforts will create an enduring legacy of helping others that will live on long after she’s gone.

To make a donation or learn more about WATTS, visit watts-homelessshelter.org.