Upcoming Events & News

CRI Wraps Up the Recovery Funding

CRI spent more than $359,815 in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funds in Wood County, serving 528 individuals.

Read the full article at the link below:
Community Resources Funds Programs

CRI Helps Local Farmer

Rob Butcher lives in the Washington Bottom area and operates the Butcher Family Farm. Over the years, Rob and his family have been dedicated to providing the residents of the Mid-Ohio Valley area with fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, and even pumpkins in the fall. Rob has battled muscular dystrophy his whole life and has been confined to a wheelchair for many of those years. With the help of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Community Resources, Inc. and the Standing Wheel Chair Company were able to work together to provide Rob with a new motorized standing wheelchair that will enable him to continue the family business.

CRI Provided Free Shoes to Children in Need Through Payless Gives™ Shoes 4 Kids Holiday Giving Program

Community Resources, Inc. was selected as an official partner of Payless Gives, an annual giving program from Payless ShoeSource. Throughout the 2010 holiday season, CRI distributed 75 coupons for shoes to children of families in 11 WV counties including Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wetzel, Wirt and Wood. “We are always looking for new opportunities to help our community,” said Community Development Manager Jennifer Randolph. “It is wonderful to have just one more way we can help the people in our area. Payless is doing a great thing by helping us give kids just one more reason to smile around the holidays. It’s amazing how a new pair of shoes can make anyone feel.” Community Resources, Inc. plans to participate in this program again in 2011.

40 Years of Volunteer Service

Recent article from the WV Asset Building Coalition Newsletter

On December 3, 2010 a Volunteer Service Award was presented to Louis J. Bogdan by Gregory Stevens, Executive Director of Community Resources, Inc. and Rose Kinney, Outreach Coordinator for the Mid-Ohio Valley EITC Coalition.

Lou has served in a volunteer capacity of some kind for the last 40 years. There is a plant sitting in his living room that he told the story of a lady, her name was Sarah, that he helped in his early years when he lived in Pennsylvania. When her husband passed away she had no means of transportation. She called upon Lou to help her with her errands and grocery shopping. There was just one catch, he must use her car! Some years passed by and she too passed away. A couple of months after her passing a floral truck stopped at his house one day with a delivery for him. It was from Sarah's son, a "thank you" for all Lou had done for Sarah. The plant is 24 years old and he says every time he looks at that plant, he thinks of Sarah.

Lou has been volunteering with VITA / EITC/ TCE for 23 years. Some of those more recent years he has been the site coordinator for the Wood County Library site in Parkersburg, WV. He has graciously stepped aside this year and agreed to become our "senior advisor" for our tax site due to illness of his wife and failing health of his own. He wants in no way to give up in tax preparation because it is a much needed service in our community. He will continue to study and test out just in case he needs to step in somewhere. In his years of volunteering he has served his community by doing tax preparation, conducting the training each year for tax prep, taught AARP driving courses at the young age of late 80-something and currently still tries as time permits to volunteer in the office of his local police department, just to name a few.

The IRS sent a plaque for their appreciation of his years of tax preparation service to the VITA program. Rose and Greg were happy to make the presentation on behalf of the IRS and the WV State EITC Coalition. Lou said his hope was to make the 25 year mark, but didn’t guess that was going to happen. Then he smiled and said "but you never know."

WTAP Diaper Closet Interview

Brenda Myers, Community Service Specialist at CRI and Shaun Taylor, BB&T Executive were interviewed on WTAP.

Watch the video at the link below:
Diaper Closet Interviewed

CRI Continues to Build Homes

CRI has built another home! This house is located in Evans, WV and is currently under contract. This is all done through the Community Housing Development Organization. More homes will soon be built in Pleasants, Tyler and Wetzel counties.

CRI Offers Free Tax Assistance

Rose Kinney, operations manager and EITC/VITA outreach coordinator with Community Resources Inc. in Parkersburg, said public interest and participation in the program has grown each year. "Every year, we've double our numbers," she said.

Read the full article in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel here:
Free Tax Preparation Help Available

Rose Kinney was also interviewed on WTAP about the free tax assistance CRI provides through the VITA program.

"Several people have their W-2's the second week in January," says VITA Coordinator Rose Kinney, "and are anxious to get their tax returns back, so we open our sites early. The rest of the VITA sites open the first week in February."

Follow this link to view the video:
Tax Assistance

CRI Helps the Progress of the MOVHD’s Adult Oral Health Care Program

Statement from the Oral Health Coordinator at the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, Mary-Beth Shea:
"We hope, over time, the program will be self-sustainable with the generation of fees, but for the startup, we have received funding from Benedum. We also received a brand new digital X-ray system from Community Resources Inc. They will continue to partner with us," she said. "We don't' have room at the health department to have a clinic, so it will be strictly a screening facility."

Read the full article at the link below:
Oral Care Promoted

CRI Opens a New Office in Doddridge County

Doddridge County residents had previously been served out of an office in Ritchie County. Doddridge County will now have its own office in West Union, WV. It is located in the Doddridge County Center for Children and Families at which currently houses the Doddridge County FRN. The address is Rt. 2 Box 25B West Union, WV 26456. This is the old Smithburg School Building. CRI’s office is through the front doors to the right. The phone/fax number is (304)-873-3439.

CRI Successfully Obtains an $11,742 Donation in Exchange for WV Tax Credits Available Through the Neighborhood Investment Program

A total of $5,871 in WV State Tax Credits was available at Community Resources, Inc. This was made possible by the Neighborhood Investment Program (NIP) which is a program administered by the West Virginia Development Office. This donation will support the continuation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act programs.

More tax credits may be available at CRI in April of 2011. Please contact the Community Resources, Inc. Administrative Office at 304-485-5525 or toll free at 1-866-585-5525 for more information!

Click here to view a flyer on the Neighborhood Investment Program and frequently asked questions.

Community Resources, Inc. Helps
Peer Support Purchase Washer and Dryer

Peer Support can now help more individuals wash and dry their clothes thanks to a new washer and dryer purchased by Community Resources, Inc. (CRI). With recent stimulus funding, CRI was able to purchase the new washer and dryer for Peer Support. The washer and dryer Peer Support was currently using was old and starting to break down. Also, with the volume of clothes needing cleaned and the amount of individuals needing this service, it became quickly apparent that a new washer and dryer needed to be purchased.

Frederich Kalmbach, a frequent visitor of Peer Support, said “I’m glad we got a new washer and dryer because there are a lot of members needing to do laundry and not enough time in a day. This new washer and dryer will help speed things along. Thanks to Peer Support for the space and Community Resources for the new items.”

CRI was able to purchase these new items for Peer Support using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for its Community Services Block Grant. This program ended on September 30th, 2010, but for the 15 months the program existed, CRI administered many programs that helped a lot of individuals in its 11-county region. The new washer and dryer was just one of the projects CRI was able to provide for the community.

“I love the new washer and dryer,” said Hazel King, Director of Peer Support’s Drop-in Center. “I mentioned a recent inflation of individuals coming from Salvation Army and House to Home to Brenda Myers (of CRI), and they got on the ball and made it happen. I am so appreciative of Community Resources.”

CRI is a private nonprofit community action agency established in 1986 serving 11 counties in West Virginia. CRI’s mission is to empower families and strengthen communities by providing leadership, education, resources and opportunities that improve quality of life. Services that CRI provides to the community include employment and education, financial independence, crisis intervention, housing and weatherization. For more information about CRI, please call 1-866-585-5525.

BB& T Stocks Closet with Baby Supplies

BB&T employees Josh Moon and Teresa Schreckengost stock baby supplies in the newly constructed storage closet at Community Resources Inc. The closet will provide baby formula, diapers and bathing supplies for low-income families.

September 12, 2010 - By NATALEE SEELY nseely@newsandsentinel.com

PARKERSBURG - A diaper and baby supplies closet at Community Resources Inc. was constructed and stocked Friday by members of BB&T as part of the company's Lighthouse Project.

The closet contains packages of diapers, wipes, baby formula, baby food, lotions, powders, shampoos and baby blankets for low-income families who are referred to Community Resources Inc. by local agencies.

"There is a huge need for baby supplies in this community. I kept getting numerous phone calls, and we decided to try for a grant that would allow us to make this possible," said Brenda Myers, community service specialist. "Packs of diapers run anywhere from $10 to $12. This is expensive stuff."

The closet, formerly an office, was transformed into a fully stocked, shelf-lined room with the help of BB&T, who awarded the agency a $3,000 grant for the closet and supplies. Other baby supplies were donated by AmeriCorps.

"We got a truck-full of supplies today," said Myers. "We had 80 boxes of diapers, 10 boxes of wipes and over 50 cans of formula that arrived today."

The closet will continue to be stocked with donations of baby supplies.

Community Resources, Inc. Participated
in Take a Flower to Childcare Day

To celebrate child care providers throughout the state, West Virginia Kids Count held the third annual "Take a Flower to Child Care Day" on Oct. 19. The statewide celebration of quality child care providers was created to raise awareness about the role child care plays in the healthy development of children. According to the Kids Count program, around 64,000 children in West Virginia under the age of 6 spend a large part of their day in the care of someone other than a parent. Thousands of working families rely on the daily support of quality child care programs. "Take a Flower to Child Care Day" was spearheaded by Kids Count as part of its effort to improve the quality of child care in West Virginia by advocating for a rating system.

Karen Puccio, Director of the Parkersburg Day Nursery Holds the Flowers Given to Her by CRI for Take a Flower to Childcare Day

Garnett Husk, Daycare Teacher at Minnie's Rainbow Daycare Center, Shows Her Appreciation for the Wandering Jew Flower that Janet Gherke of CRI Gave Her for Take a Flower to Childcare Day

The EQT Foundation has Awarded CRI $25,000
for the “Learn to Earn” Program

The company, EQT, is the Appalachian Basin’s largest natural gas producer and one of the largest in the country. They operate in KY, PA, VA, and WV. They are supporting CRI’s “Learn to Earn” program in Doddridge, Gilmer, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler and Wetzel counties. This program provides the necessary funds for low-income individuals to become more self-sufficient by obtaining an education. CRI will help those qualified achieve certification through a recognized and credible curriculum. Learn to Earn will help individuals acquire essential job-readiness skills through approved educational courses aiding them in obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

Community Resources, Inc. is Building Six New Houses with the Help of the Community Housing Development Organization

CRI will have affordable homes available for purchase in ten WV counties within CRI’s service region including Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wetzel and Wirt. A home in Spencer, WV is now available to be purchased by a qualifying family. The other five properties shown are future home sites. This is part of a program that helps low to moderate income individuals afford a new home. Interested buyers should contact our Housing Services Director Dawn Frederick at 304-485-5525.

Community Resources, Inc. is the new
KIDS COUNT Community Leader for the Mid-Ohio Valley

For more than 20 years, KIDS COUNT has been West Virginia's most trusted source of information about the well-being of children and a leader in the effort to educate parents, policymakers and the public about what children need to thrive and achieve. Community Resources, Inc. is very excited about being the new KIDS COUNT community leader for the Mid-Ohio Valley. The West Virginia KIDS COUNT Fund has launched year two of its successful Business on Board with Childcare! award program. The Business on Board with Childcare! designation signifies a West Virginia employer's adherence to key national and local criteria for a childcare-friendly workplace. Its purpose is to recognize businesses and organizations that offer childcare-friendly, workplace policies and encourage other West Virginia employers to follow their lead. CRI will be the lead organization in this effort for Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood counties.

Click here for more information.

Or visit the KIDS COUNT website at: http://www.wvkidscountfund.org/business-on-board.php.

CFOV Grant Award

The Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley will be supporting the work of Community Resources, Inc. by funding the recent recovery program, Care for Clunkers. Wetzel and Tyler counties will be committed a total of $8,000. This funding will provide the necessary repairs on the vehicles of low-income individuals and help them become more self-sufficient by allowing them to maintain employment or continue their education.

PACF Grant Award

Community Resources, Inc. has received a commitment of $8,000 to support the recent recovery program, Care for Clunkers, from the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation. This funding will support this program in Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties. The Care for Clunkers program helps repair the vehicles of low-income individuals and help them become more self-sufficient by allowing them to maintain employment or continue their education.

ECA Foundation Grant Award

The Energy Corporation Foundation out of Denver, Colorado has committed $20,000 of funding to support CRI’s recent recovery program, Learn to Earn. This program provides the necessary funds for low-income individuals to become more self-sufficient by obtaining an education. CRI will help those qualified achieve certification through a recognized and credible curriculum. Learn to Earn will help individuals acquire essential job-readiness skills through approved educational courses aiding them in obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.The counties supported by this funding include Calhoun, Jackson, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood.