Follansbee Chamber takes focus to serving area youth
FOLLANSBEE — The Follansbee Chamber of Commerce observed Make a Difference Day this year by handing out more than $3,000 in donations for programs that feed local youth and other causes.
Chamber President Tony Paesano noted the chamber’s goal, as outlined in its mission statement, is to create a positive business climate in Follansbee and to enhance the quality of life for its residents.
He said taking part in Make a Difference Day is in keeping with such goals because it brings together businesses and other groups in service to the community.
This year, as individuals and collectively through the chamber, members made donations to school backpack and afterschool programs that provide food to youth in need, as well as the Anderson Children’s Home and the American Cancer Society.
Paesano said one in four West Virginia children is in a household at the federal poverty level, and free breakfasts and lunches are available to all Brooke County students because their schools have a high number of students who qualify for free or reduced meals.
He noted children who are hungry or lack adequate clothing often can’t focus on school and fail to obtain a good education.
Recipients of the donations were:
¯ The Anderson Children’s Home at Hooverson Heights, which received $500 from the chamber and $100 from Tony and Lorraine Paesano. Operated for more than 50 years by Mary Ruth Morris, who died last year, the home served more than 200 youth and severely mentally and physically impaired adults. Now run by staff who worked with Morris, it’s occupied by two handicapped adults at this time but remains available to children with various special needs, said Josh Swartz, Morris’ son.
¯ The Friday’s Friends program at St. Anthony Catholic Church, which provides backpacks filled with nonperishable food to children at Jefferson Primary School. The program received $760 and a $50 gift card from Puskarich Accounting, First Choice American Community Federal Credit Union, the Follansbee WesBanco branch, Lyle’s Auto, Weirton Geriatric Center, 20th Century Woman’s Club, Donna and Darrell Henline, Charlotte and Martin Kolenc, Cheryl Rawson, Project B.E.S.T., Gus’s Goodies, Riesbeck Food Market, Family Connections, the Follansbee branch of First National Bank and Minda’s Bookstore and More.
Janet Benzo, a retired teacher overseeing the program, said she and volunteers spend about $400 per week on food for about 40 children who take the backpacks home with them on weekends and breaks.
¯ The Follansbee R.E.A.C.H. Program, a local food pantry, which received $1,000 from the Cuomo & Cuomo Law Office of Wellsburg. Headed by attorney Frank Cuomo, the law office has made a $1,000 donation to the charity for several years. Ed Wilkerson, a member of the program’s board, said food is given to about 32 families each week, but he and volunteer organizers behind it believe many more can be served. To help spread word of it, representatives manned an information booth at Follansbee Christmas in the Park.
¯ The Christian Assembly of Follansbee’s afterschool program, which received $400 from Charles A. Basil of C.A.B. Technologies & Printing Solutions of Moon Township, Pa. The Rev. Joe Cuomo, church pastor, and Shirley Jean Cuomo, a retired teacher involved with the program, said since it was started in 2008, more than 100 children have participated, receiving a free meal each day as well as homework assistance, a Bible lesson and craft istructions. While the church is undergoing repairs following the recent flood, the program is expected to resume in the near future.
¯ Brooke High School’s food pantry, which also received $400 from Basil. Students in need also receive personal hygiene items and school supplies through the pantry, which is operated by volunteers with the Brooke County Council PTA in conjunction with a clothes closet laid out in the style of men’s and women’s clothing stores. Volunteer Charlene Smith said the pantry serves about 47 teens.
¯ The American Cancer Society Brooke-Hancock Relay for Life, which received $1,000 from Eric Fithyan of Chambers and James Funeral Homes. Fithyan noted the American Cancer Society’s goal is to ensure more birthdays, meaning fewer deaths from cancer, and supporting the organization can help to prevent children from becoming tomorrow’s cancer victims. Accepting was Brady Medovic, ACS community manager, who said this year’s Brooke-Hancock Relay for Life will be held at 6 p.m. June 4 at Follansbee Middle School.
¯ The Weirton Christian Center, which received $500 from Puskarich Accounting. Headed by Executive Director Kim Weaver, the center operates a preschool program and an afterschool program. She said the center provides food, clothing and activities for about 75 youth in the afterschool program and 20 in the preschool.
Weaver said since learning many children had little to eat when not in school, 50 to 75 bags of nonperishable food have been sent home with the youth.
In other business, Paesano announced the chamber’s annual dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Follansbee Community House. Pat Ford, executive director of the Business Development Corp.of the Northern Panhandle, will serve as guest speaker.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)
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