Ohio County, Marshall County Family Support Centers Receive $50,000 Each

Aetna Better Health West Virginia signed two $50,000 checks on Monday for the Family Support Centers in both Ohio and Marshall counties to enhance the direct service provided to families in both counties.

The two counties' centers are run through each county's Family Resource Network. The FSC programs, funded by the West Virginia Department of Human Services Bureau for Family Assistance, collaborate with the local FRNs to provide various services to families with children.

The donations made to the Ohio and Marshall Counties FSCs were two of 56 donations made by Aetna to FSCs across the state, totaling $2.85 million. Aetna Community Development Coordinator Taylor Daugherty said the donations went toward centers in the state as they provide "direct services" to families in need.

"Whether it's food pantries or family events and activities, these family support centers provide what is needed right now across the state," Daugherty said. "We know dollars are strapped right now, so we're going the best we can across the community to help further their efforts."

Both the Ohio County and Marshall County centers plan to use the funding to help supply their food pantries and expand their programming in the area.

Claudia Raymer, Ohio County Family Resource Network Executive Director, said the funding would support their food security initiatives, including the program's Blessing Boxes. The Ohio County Family Support Center runs eight outdoor Blessing Boxes across the county filled with food items to provide for food-insecure families and individuals.

"The Blessing Boxes are part of our food security initiatives, so the funding will help get the word out about this resource in the community," Raymer said. "We need to promote these programs so food insecure families and individuals know that there is assistance for them."

Kimberli Green, Marshall County FRN Executive Director, said the funding would fill the shelves of their center's baby, hygiene, clothing and food assistance pantries. She noted that sometimes, due to a lack of products, they cannot provide "everything that everyone needs."

"Our grants pay for some of the items in the pantry, but it only goes so far," Green noted. "This will allow us to continue to meet the needs of Marshall County and keep those pantries stocked."

Daugherty noted that providing food for the community is one way the Aetna funding would "directly serve the community" through both counties' FSCs.

"Just having one station where people can come and get food can help reach those who need it," Daugherty said. "Sometimes the funding is just used to provide more storage because there's such a big need for clothes or hygiene supplies in the community that an FSC is running out of space to store the items in their pantries."

Apart from targeting food insecurity in the area, both FSCs plan to expand their programming, whether by adding more resources to after-school programs or providing additional Narcan administration classes.

Raymer said the donation would fund the FSC's after-school programs, parenting classes and skill-building workshops. She noted that the FSC's next workshop, held in December, will focus on teenage mental health.

"What drives the programming is what the needs of the parents are," Raymer noted. "One of the ways we make sure we keep the programming family-centered is through our Family Advisory Board, which provides constant communication about the needs of families in the area."

Ohio County Family Support Center Family Advisory Board member Heather Hines said the donation would help fund various school programs. She added Elm Grove Elementary School's Sparking Success program was one FSC program that would benefit from the donation.

"The Sparking Success group meets every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at school, and we feed them a meal and assist them with homework," Hines said. "There's a huge social and emotional component that provides them, so I'm looking forward to seeing the value the funding will bring to that program."

Traci Kinney, Marshall County FSC Director, also looked forward to seeing how the funding could expand their parent education programs and child activities. She noted that their guardian and child activities "typically fill up very quickly," with the donation providing FSC with "additional opportunities to expand and provide support resources."

Marshall County FSC support resources include fun activities to encourage family involvement and community-centered programming such as Narcan administration training and CPR and first aid classes.

"These programs can provide direct services, educate parents and provide training opportunities for not only families but community members," Kinney noted. "Our CPR and first aid classes teach a critical skill for families and community members, and the spots fill up quickly when we hold these programs fill up quickly."

Daugherty said both FSCs were using the funding for its "exact purpose" - building community and supporting local families.

"This funding is about building communities and helping people where they need it," Daugherty said. "It's a hand up, not a hand down because people usually need just a little extra assistance. We're just proud to be a part of that."