The Charleston Gazette - Christmas Charities

Christmas fund drive raises nearly $74,000

(Staff reports) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Thank you to all who donated during the 2012 Gazette Charities Christmas Fund drive. This week, donors tacked on an additional $4,200 to bring the grand total to nearly $74,000. Ten local charity organizations and, in turn, the peopl...

Theres still time to give to Gazette Christmas Fund

(Staff reports) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 23:45:00 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - Aesop Another Christmas has come and gone, but the agencies that help members of our community can still use the help of Gazette readers. Were still accepting donations for t...

Single mother of four needs help caring for newborn, buying Christmas gifts

mackenzie.mays@wvgazette.com (Mackenzie Mays) — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Pam met the father of her three children when she was very young. She thought he loved her and that he would take care of her. But, he left her to raise the children on her own.Being on her own was nothing new for Pam -...

Family of five needs beds after house fire destroyed home

mackenzie.mays@wvgazette.com (Mackenzie Mays) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:05:24 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Last month, Della and her four children, of Beckley, lost everything in a house fire. Since then, the five of them have been staying with family in Charleston. While they are happy to have a roof over their heads, theres not much ...

Christmas Fund approaches $60K; still time to give

(Staff reports) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:52:04 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." — AesopCHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Christmas is almost here. On that day, among all of its festivities, Gazette readers will see the last of ou...

Jericho House needs help in providing emergency housing to St. Albans area

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 23:45:00 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." — AesopCHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As is the case more often than not, Jericho House is full.

"Having to tell people we have no room is hard...

Man struggles to repair home after derecho scars roof

(Travis Crum) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 23:45:00 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -- AesopCHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Nathaniel makes a modest income but never complains or a...

Family faces hunger, no gifts after dads injury

(Travis Crum) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- After John was injured and lost his job a few months ago, hes struggled to make rent payments and buy food for his family of four. John and his wife, Laura, wont have any extra money to buy gifts for their two young children this Chris...

Family needs new roof, home repairs

lori.kersey@wvgazette.com (Lori Kersey) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 16:37:47 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- After he suffered a heart attack while in his 30s, David was diagnosed with other health problems that ultimately disabled him. Now that he is unable to work, he and his wife Paula struggle to pay the bills with his disability ...

Readers donate more than $33,000, but need remains

(Staff reports) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- About 100 readers stepped forward this week and made a donation to help the less fortunate in our community. The donations this week totaled more than $12,000, pushing the grand total to more than $33,300. Unfortunately, the need f...

Union Mission helps widow replace windows

lori.kersey@wvgazette.com (Lori Kersey) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:45:00 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -- AesopCHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Betty lost her husband, Clyde, to a sudd...

Mountain Mission provides aid in custody situation

Zachary.Taylor@wvgazette.com (Zac Taylor) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:59:48 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- When her sister passed away of a long illness, Renee received custody of her niece and nephew. The 27-year-old quickly discovered that she couldnt raise the children on her income. Stressed, she turned to Mountain Mission, a local p...

Mountain Mission helps struggling families

Zachary.Taylor@wvgazette.com (Zac Taylor) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Jane already had one child to feed when she found out that a relative had died, leaving her four children in foster care. Without hesitation, Jane took the children into her home. She became an early 30s, single mother of five overnigh...

Manna Meal not just for the homeless

balow@wvgazette.com (Jim Balow) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 17:26:16 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -- Aesop CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Soup kitchens or breadlines became a way of life for many during the Great Depression years, though the concept dates back hundreds of years. Churches and c...

Week 2 of charity drives pushes total past $21,000

(Staff reports) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:34:58 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In the second week of the Gazette Charities Christmas Fund, generous donors gave more than $13,000, pushing the grand total to more than $21,300 for the season. Were still a long way from our goal, but theres still plenty of time to g...

Daymark programs help troubled teens

(Staff reports) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:45:00 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -- AesopCHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Alex was 12 when he first came to Patchwork, seeking a way out from the sexual abuse he was experiencing at home.

New Connections helps woman be good mother

rustymarks@wvgazette.com (Rusty Marks) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:59:15 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Lannah grew up hard, moving in and out of foster homes because of her mothers drug problem. She dropped out of school, hitched up with an abusive boyfriend and wound up pregnant and alone. But Lannah wants to be a good mo...

Gabriel Project helps new mothers, parents with infants

(Kate White) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:29:13 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -- AesopCHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Emilys baby girl is allergic to the infant formula available through the federal Woman, Infants and Children Program. Her baby must eat a special for...

Gabriel Project works to help mother left on her own

(Kate White) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 17:12:50 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -- Aesop CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- When Nathan was killed in a car wreck at age 20, Melissa was left to care for their 6 month-old-baby boy on her own. Melissa, who also has a 2-year-ol...

Fund collects $8,100 in first week of giving

(Staff reports) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:21:42 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Gazette Charities Christmas Fund collected more than $8,100 in its first week. Its a strong statement from our readers and friends in the community, but the need is great, so we hope the response continues to be as generous as...

Covenant House helps woman get life on track

(Megan Workman) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:53:24 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -- Aesop

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A long history of abusive relationships helped lead to Cathys four years of homelessn...

Covenant Houses Drop-In Center lends helping hand

(Megan Workman) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Each time Brenda visited the Covenant House Drop-in Centers food pantry, her eyesight got worse. She was going blind. The staff at Covenant House said the fact that she was slowly losing her eyesight didnt prevent her from being a...

Single father needs help to make sure children stay warm this winter

kathryng@wvgazette.com (Kathryn Gregory) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 23:45:00 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -- AesopCHARLESTON, W.Va. -- One single father is taking college classes with the hope of bettering his familys current situation, but his minimum wage job as a janitor leave...

Single mothers need help providing for their children

kathryng@wvgazette.com (Kathryn Gregory) — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 16:27:16 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." AesopCHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With four children ages 10 and under, one single mother in the Charleston area is struggling to make ends meet. Shes not sure she can provide enough war...

Gazette Charities begins annual charities fund drive

(Staff reports) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 19:00:00 -0500

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Aesop

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Today, as you gather with f...