Photo by Joselyn King YWCA Wheeling Director Lori Jones welcomes those attending YWCA Wheeling’s annual luncheon on Thursday.

WHEELING – Staff and board members of YWCA Wheeling on Thursday celebrated helping more than 14,000 women and children over the past year.

The organization that has operated more than 120 years in Wheeling provided its annual report during a luncheon at its newly renovated building on Chapline Street.

“I ask every year, tell me how many people do we impact? How many people do we serve?” said past board president Karen Stakem. “This year, that is 14,471. Of that, 6,355 are children.

“You can’t make that huge number without a huge community of help. We have an amazing board. We have amazing sustainers. And I think in the nonprofit world, we have the best staff.”

Director Lori Jones said YWCA Wheeling continues to attract donations and stay financially stable at this time.

“This year we have much to celebrate. We’re blessed,” she explained. “In light of today’s federal and state funding and cuts, we’re an organization that is not struggling as hard as much of the others. We’ve always been able to pivot and remain healthy.

“I do know that when we stand together, we demonstrate the movement that has been advancing justice in the Ohio Valley for more than 120 years.”

And during fiscal year 2025-26, YWCA Wheeling can celebrate many accolades, according to Jones.

Among them, organization completed a $10 million renovation of its entire facility – a project that took more than two years to finish.

“It all reminds us why we do this work – the community impact,” she said. “Then there are the people and the children who are seeking a hand up or a fist bump in solidarity to know that we are walking with them until they are strong enough to walk again by themselves. That’s who we are. That’s our peace.

“We are an organization that when you are weathering challenging times, we will weather them with you.”

The year also has been hard, and the YWCA has been busy, Jones continued.

“We’re human. We get frustrated. People aren’t always as clean as we would like them to be,” she explained. “They aren’t as clear of thought as we would like them to be. We get caught up in the minute details. Did they take the trash out? Did they sweep the floors?

“But movement doesn’t move unless we all move. Remember the miracles of someone escaping with their life and the lives of their children. I love how we show up for each other, but it’s important that we remember the big picture.”

Heather Lapp, director of the Y-Not Repeat Boutique at YWCA Wheeling, noted the boutique reopened in the YWCA’s basement following renovations on Aug. 27, 2025. Since that time, it has served 2,086 customers and done $32,582 in sales. Money generated is used to support other YWCA programs.

There were 61 individuals identified as having a human trafficking history who were residents at the YWCA Wheeling during the year, according to Lisa Indermuhle, director of the Survivors of Trafficking Empowerment Program. In total, those individuals spent 2,060 nights at the shelter over the last 12 months.

Stakem’s two-year term as board president concluded with the luncheon. Alex Weld was named as new board president.