BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

KERMIT, W.Va. — Christian Help is preparing for its Christmas Extravaganza that is aimed to accommodate 400 families in Mingo and Martin counties.

The event is set for Dec. 16 at the old Kermit gymnasium and aims to provide parents with the joy of giving their children a memorable Christmas. Parents or guardians will have the opportunity to pick out new gifts for their children. This initiative ensures that no child feels overlooked during the Christmas season.

Families from Mingo or Martin County with children under 17 and limited income are invited to register between the hours of 10 a.m. and noon and 1-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Christian Help is closed Wednesday to restock the clothing store and food pantry and to deep-clean the building.

Necessary documents for application include identification for residency proof and a medical or EBT card for each child. Qualifying families will be assigned a number for the giveaway process.

During the event, volunteers will assist adults in selecting suitable toys and clothing based on their children’s ages. In addition to the gifts, families will receive a voucher for a Christmas dinner, courtesy of Food City, adding to the holiday spirit.

Founded nearly 30 years ago by Catholic nuns and sustained through national donations, Christian Help serves residents of Mingo and Martin counties. Under the leadership of Rebecca Hooker, the executive director for nearly two years, the organization has expanded its outreach and impact.

While the Christmas giveaway is a highlight, Christian Help’s commitment to the community extends beyond this event. The organization provides a range of services including a food pantry with various items, free clothing, shoes, household items, and baby essentials. They also offer assistance with emergency home repairs and help with utility bills for residents facing disconnection.

“As it says on our website, we do not limit visits to our food pantry to one time a month because we know it’s impossible to feed a family on two bags of food for that period of time,” said Hooker. “We look at each individual case and need and go from there. It should always be ‘need over greed’, but we will not turn away anyone that we believe is hungry.”

Christian Help has a large room filled with rack after rack of clothing in all sizes and for all ages, shoes and household items to assist those who don’t have what they need. Hooker sees the importance of everyone having decent, clean clothes to wear and feels when they do not, they are stripped of their dignity and pride.

“We don’t charge for any clothes that are available in our store as many locations do. I’ve always believed if you don’t have a quarter, then you don’t have a quarter, but that doesn’t mean you should do without,” remarked the director. “We do ask that you take no more than what you need and that nothing is sold in yard sales or thrift stores. We welcome and appreciate donations from the public and ask that all items are gently used, washed and free of stain.”

Hooker also provides baby items such as diapers for those with little ones, and has in stock personal hygiene items and adult care products.

The organization offers assistance in the form of used furniture items and household goods to those who are without, and has a program that in some cases, can provide financial assistance for home repairs when an emergency occurs.

Assistance is available for residents in Mingo and Martin counties who have received a disconnect notice on their electric or gas bill. A copy of the disconnect must be brought to Christian help, as well as identification and proof of residency of the account holder. The payment will be made directly to the utility company.

Christian Help is the only organization within Mingo County that provides transportation to and from doctor appointments for the West Virginia residents. Advanced notice is required for scheduling.

“We care deeply about each and every person that lives in our local area, and we encourage them to not hesitate to call upon us when they are in need,” remarked Hooker. “We are here to serve those in need and will do our very best to provide assistance or direct them to someone who can.

“We don’t want there to be one person who is hungry, one person who can’t go to church or to a job interview or even just out in public because they don’t have a decent outfit to wear. We don’t want a family to be sitting in a freezing house with no utilities or means of heat. Please come to Christian Help and let us see what we can do to alleviate some of your worries and stress and make your day a little brighter. I’ve been where you are, I’ve walked in your shoes and I can personally testify to what Christian Help meant to me in my time of need, and what it can do for you and your family as well.”

For more information on the Christmas Extravaganza and other services offered by Christian Help, residents can contact the organization at 304-393-4251 during regular business hours, or visit their office at the corner of Virginia and Lincoln Street in Kermit.