TEAMING UP — Officials at the WalMart Distribution Center in Wintersville met with the nonprofits Sycamore Youth Center and AIM Women’s Center to discuss expanded partnerships to benefit the community. Those on hand to discuss upcoming programs were, from left, Paul Heffner, WalMart human resources manager; Rebekah Cohen-Morris, executive director of AIM; Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of Sycamore; and MaLinda Lewis, WalMart general manager. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Executive directors from the Sycamore Youth Center and the Aim Women’s Center met with leaders at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Wintersville to discuss expanded partnerships that will benefit children and families throughout the Ohio Valley.

Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of Sycamore, and Rebekah Cohen-Morris, executive director of AIM, met with General Manager MaLinda Lewis of Wal-Mart and Human Resources Manager Paul Heffner to focus on new ways that Wal-Mart staff can become involved in local community programs.

This will build on years of support which the distribution center has already provided the community, Bauman noted. Lewis oversees nearly 1,000 employees at the Wintersville facility. Throughout the last several years, Wal-Mart Distribution Center employees have assisted the Sycamore Youth Center with projects, including putting together its newsletters and helping provide food for children who participate in after-school programs.

Looking ahead, the center’s employees are expected to assist the Aim Women’s Center with projects, such as fixing up the center and other initiatives that will strengthen the services for its women and families.

“We are so grateful for the partnership with Wal-Mart and the incredible generosity of their employees,” Bauman said. “They have been a faithful friend to the Sycamore Youth Center, and now we are excited to see this spirit of service extend to the Aim Women’s Center as well. Together, we can make an even greater impact in the lives of children and families.”

Cohen-Morris echoed those sentiments, saying, “It was such a joy to meet with MaLinda and Paul. Their willingness to come alongside us means so much. The possibility of Wal-Mart’s team helping with building maintenance and enhancement projects and other forms of support at Aim, will make a lasting difference for the women and children we serve.”

The collaboration underscores the importance of community partnerships between local nonprofits and area employers.

Wal-Mart leaders expressed their enthusiasm about continuing to work closely with the organizations to meet community needs.

“This is a wonderful example of what happens when businesses and nonprofits come together with a shared vision for service,” Bauman said. “The results bless the entire Ohio Valley.”