Weirton Christian Center receives share of opioid funds

WEIRTON - Weirton Council gave its blessing, Tuesday, to an allocation of the city’s opioid settlement funds in support of a long-standing organization working to aid the community’s youth.

Council voted unanimously to provide $75,000 from its pool of opioid funds - derived from lawsuit settlement agreements between the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office and producers and distributors of pharmaceutical opioids - for the Weirton Christian Center.

"Thank you so much for this blessing," said Kim Weaver, executive director of the Christian Center, near the end of Tuesday’s meeting.

The funding is to be used in support of children affected by "the death or custodial loss of parents due to substance abuse with basic needs crisis support teams and supplies," and "to fund after and summer school programs; life and job skills training; as well as peer group and professionally counseled training."

According to information included with the resolution, the funding will be divided among six programs and operations, with $10,000 going toward its Never Alone Kids program, held in cooperation with Never Alone WV, funding two counselors, food and supplies for three 10-week sessions.

Another $14,200 will be used in support of counseling services, $10,000 for Project Journey Leadership, $10,000 for emergency family assistance to include rent, utilities, food, transportation, and more, depending on need, $5,800 for transportation services, as needed, and the remaining $25,000 for operational support of the Christian Center itself.

Mayor Dean Harris noted the Christian Center will be holding an open house from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 22, encouraging residents who have not visited or experienced their services to attend.

"The work you do is just incredible," Harris said. "I’m just glad we were able to help out."

He congratulated the Weirton Christian Center, and its staff, for continuing a more-than-100-year tradition of service to the community, noting the impact it has on the youth through its preschool and after-school programs, the upkeep of a community garden which also provides learning opportunities for the kids, and efforts to send them to summer camp each year.

"You can feel the love they have for the kids, and the kids have for them," Harris said.

In other business, Tuesday, Weirton Council:

Approved, by a 5-1 vote, the appointment of Enzo Fracasso to the Weirton Area Water Board, with Councilwoman Brittany Holloway voting against, and Councilman Anthony Rocchio recusing himself from the vote as he serves as council’s representative to the board. Fracasso’s appointment fills a vacancy created by the recent resignation of long-time board member Jim Shockley.

Passed, unanimously, a resolution amending the city’s 2025 fiscal Community Development Block Grant funds, reallocating $10,000 from a roof replacement project from Comfort House to funding the creation of a new project with Family Care Pharmacy to acquire medication counters.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)