Two in Fayette County to receive Governor's Service Award

EDMOND, W.Va. – Two Fayette County residents, Maren Boblits and Libby Campbell Lucas, are going to receive a Governor's Service Award.

Presented since 1995, the Governor's Service Awards honors individuals and groups that exemplify outstanding dedication to volunteerism and community service in West Virginia.

The two will be honored along with others on Thursday, June 15, at the annual Governor's Service Awards dinner at the Culture Center at the State Capitol.

Described as a volunteer rock star, Boblits’ leadership and willingness to help others stands out in her community. As a Fayette County 4-H teen leader, she has organized multiple service projects, which include Blessing Boxes, food drives, community cleanups and more.

Her commitment to community service was heightened when she noticed the pressing need to replenish the Blessing Boxes throughout Fayette County. In 2021, Fayette County 4-H started a Blessing Box program in the county, placing them in seven communities. However, the demand for nonperishable food and hygiene items far exceeded the frequency at which the boxes were being filled. Recognizing this challenge, Boblits took charge and organized two highly successful canned food drives in March and October 2022.

During the canned food drive, Boblits collaborated with local stores and schools, contacting various businesses to set up donation boxes within their premises. After weeks of collection, Maren and her 4-H club devised a plan to distribute all the donated items to the Blessing Boxes.

In October, Maren organized a door-to-door "Trick or Treat for Canned Goods" event, encouraging club members to dress up in Halloween costumes and request donated canned food or hygiene items instead of candy. This innovative approach to volunteerism engaged members of all ages, making it a truly inclusive initiative.

Through these efforts, Fayette County 4-H members could consistently keep the Blessing Boxes stocked and accessible to those in need. Although the precise number of residents benefiting from these boxes is unknown, the rate at which they became empty signifies the extensive need in the community.

In addition to her work with the Blessing Boxes, Maren identified another community need in 2022 — community cleanups. Understanding the importance of a safe and clean environment, Maren and her 4-H club determined two communities in dire need of cleanup efforts. Boblits encouraged the Fayette County 4-H teen leaders to adopt this project and successfully recruited club members to participate in the community cleanups.

Her involvement in community projects continues to flourish, evident by her election as president of the 4-H teen leaders in October 2022. Furthermore, Boblits has been an instrumental volunteer in the newly established Teen Court program, demonstrating her commitment to youth-led initiatives. Through her volunteerism and leadership, Maren has become a role model for others, demonstrating the power of selflessness and service.

Boblits will receive her award in the Youth Category.

Lucas of Ansted will be recognized in the senior division.

A lifelong resident of Ansted, one of Lucas' most eye-opening experiences occurred during her seventh-grade year when she noticed a classmate arriving at school in dirty clothes, subjected to ridicule by other students. Despite her own family's modest means, Libby selflessly offered to bring clean clothes for her classmate every Monday morning. Witnessing the transformative power of her kindness and the smile it brought to her classmate's face, Lucas made a personal pledge to prevent anyone from experiencing hurt and humiliation. Although she acknowledges that she cannot help everyone, Lucas remains committed to helping the community.

Lucas is known for consistently going above and beyond to assist her neighbors in Ansted. She arranges meals for families in need, helps families recover from house fires, organizes Narcan classes to combat the opioid crisis, purchases Christmas gifts for local families, and extends unwavering support to Ansted's first responders and Volunteer Fire Department through homecooked meals. She also secured citations for the Ansted Fire Department through the Legislature and helped to obtain a street sign for the fire department.

Additionally, she takes the lead in organizing community events such as the Santa Run and the Easter Run. She also enjoys volunteering for the local Shop With A Cop initiative.

For over 15 years, Lucas has volunteered at the Ansted Heritage Festival. Her service extends further as she has actively served on the Fayette County Executive Committee, dedicating her time to writing grants for community projects and aiding individuals in accessing social security and child support. She also has helped to secure grants in the past for Gauley Bridge and local festivals in the area. The magnitude of Lucas' impact on the community is impossible to quantify, as her actions touch the lives of many.

In 2001, when Ansted faced a devastating flood, Lucas immediately headed to the emergency shelter, where she ended up staying 30 days to volunteer. During her time there, she encountered remarkable individuals, but one elderly man's story left a mark on her heart. This man had been living in his van and required rescue. Upon arriving at the shelter, he expressed overwhelming gratitude to his "army of people" for saving him and rescuing his Bible.

This experience led Lucas to a decade of helping with shelters whenever the need arises, whether it is a flood, power outage, or warming shelter. Currently, she serves as the dedicated volunteer shelter coordinator for the Midland Trail Community Center. She has been involved in every shelter in the county as a shelter coordinator since 2001. This heartfelt story is just one of the many experiences that inspire Lucas to continue giving back in Ansted.

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