WHEELING—Community Markets Inc., located in Shepherdstown, WV, is partnering with St. James Catholic Church in Charles Town, WV, and other local organizations to provide 3 trucks/trailers full of fresh & local food, cleaning supplies, and other necessities to flood victims in Ohio and Marion counties. The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is providing funding and people power to help make the donation possible.
The trucks will arrive at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Monday, June 30. Food items will be brought to the Catholic Neighborhood Center on 18th street in Wheeling, where other local organizations will be on hand to receive it and help distribute it to those affected by the flooding. Since the flooding occurred, the Catholic Neighborhood Center, part of Catholic Charities WV (CCWVa) has served as a hub for food distribution and other resources.
In addition to immediate relief, CCWVa specializes in long-term humanitarian and recovery efforts, assisting families long after other organizations have moved out, helping families and individuals in the rebuilding process to restore safe, secure, and sanitary living conditions.
Special collections in all Catholic churches in the diocese fund these efforts. A third truck loaded with flood relief supplies such as; tarps, shovels, crow bars, utility knives, work and disposable gloves, new socks, disinfectant wipes, contractor bags, storage bins, buckets, trash cans, scrub brushes, brooms, duct tape, muck boots, mops, bleach, dish soap, allpurpose cleaner, spray bottles, sponges and rags, hoses and squeegees will be delivered to affected areas to continue working to clean-up from the tragic flooding. Members of the chancery staff for the diocese and other volunteers will be onsite to help offload and deliver items to flood victims.
“Our community has suffered horrific loss,” said Tim Bishop, Director of Communication for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, “but even in these tragic times, God’ s never ending love and mercy will help us all overcome. It is great to witness not only our priests and Catholic churches, but also our Catholic school students and lay faithful join with members of other faith communities in the area in the effort to help victim’s rebuild their lives. All of us are living Christ’s command to love your neighbor.”
Community Markets Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Shepherdstown whose mission is to connect locally grown food to families in need. “Community Markets, Inc. is honored to partner with Shepherdstown Shares, Jefferson Security Bank, Shepherdstown Community Club and other local organizations to come to the aid of our affected West Virginians in Ohio and Marion counties during this critical time of rebuilding,” CMI Operations Manager Mark Peiffer said. For more information on their organization, please visit www.communitymarketsinc.org.
