WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – Community Connections, based in Mercer County, is a private, non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to improving the lives of children and families on a local, regional, and statewide level. They currently operate five Family Resource Centers in Boone, Greenbrier, Mingo, Raleigh, and Wyoming Counties.
Each Family Resource Center is funded by the state at $250,000 each and their purpose is to discover resources that are available locally.
Community Connections Executive Director Greg Puckett says they are working with partners in the communities they serve to tap into the potential of the Centers.
“We’ve partnered up with a couple of places. One is the West Williamson Community Center, which is going through sort of a revitalization in that area across the river,” Puckett said. “We want to provide services to the families if somebody needs basic clothing, food, clothing, shelter, if they want to have activities for kids, it’s a great opportunity to really build that community up.”
The Family Resource Centers also do community outreach events such as the Back to 80’s Free Family Fun Night which was just recently held at the BARN Community Center, which is home to the Boone County Family Support Center.
Puckett says that the potential is there and they are determined to grow their outreach. “It’s great to have funding from the state. This is the first time that we’ve been able to reach out to this degree,” Puckett said. “It’s a great time to be focused on what our families need in our communities, especially the most rural.”
Puckett stresses that resources are available and that work continues to improve and expand their Centers in southern West Virginia. They are working to identify and provide resources for things such as mental health, substance abuse, and the basic needs of the communities.
There are about 15 counties in West Virginia without a dedicated Family Resource Center, but there are plans to expand into the remaining counties.
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